Tree 338, Lance Cpl George Reginald Mounsey, The Avenue of Honour, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia.

The Ballarat Avenue of Honour is significant as the earliest known memorial avenue to have been planted in Victoria, Australia. The trees were planted in order of the soldiers enlistment ( from Ballarat and surrounds) , and stretched some 22km along the Western Highway, consisting of 3,771 trees.? On 3 June 1917, the first 1,000 trees in the Avenue were planted by staff from the local textile mill E. Lucas & Co. Just over two years later the final planting took place on 16 August 1919, with a total of 3,771 trees.

Lance Cpl George Reginald Mounsey 1358
5th Battalion A.I.F.

Enlisted: 16 years and 11 months: 9th November 1914 (Died of Wounds, 9th May 1915)
“Dear Sir, My brother was born on 18th December 1897. He put his age up and enlisted before he turned 18. He served with 5th Batt. After arriving in Egypt stayed a fortnight there. Volunteers were called for.
He hopped in and went over to Gallipoli and served with 7th Batt. He was
killed there (wounded) on May 17 and died of wounds 2 days later on the hospital ship and was buried at sea. My mother asked for his name to be left in 5th Battalion for inclusion in the National War Memorial.”

Excerpt of letter dated 3-10-67 from from Mrs R.Macdonald addressed to Central
Army Records Office: National Archives of Australia

09.05.15: Admitted: Gun Shot Wound, Chest, Serious: Dardanelles
09.05.15: Died of Wounds on board HS ‘Braemar Castle’, Buried at sea
Excerpt from Casualty form Active Service, National Archives of Australia