Falkner, Reginald

No.1959 – Private Reginald Falkner – 12^th Battalion AIF

Reginald Falkner was born in Semaphore South Australia on the 22^nd August 1892 to Samuel and Eliza Falkner. He was one of nine children and went to school in Glenelg. After leaving school he became a shearer and station hand. He later moved to Western Australia where he resided in Rose Street South Fremantle. On the 4^th March 1915 Reg went to the Perth Drill Hall and enlisted in the AIF. He was passed as fit and found to be 5 feet 8 ½ inches tall; weight of 160 lbs; chest measurement of 34-36 inches; fair complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

After a period in depot service Reg was allotted to the 5^th Reinforcements to the 12^th Battalion with regimental no.1959. He trained with them in WA until the 26^th April 1915 when they boarded the Transport ship H.M.A.T. “Hororata” in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt. After arriving there in late May, they were soon put on a transport ship in Alexandria and transported to Gallipoli. Reg was taken on strength of the 12^th Battalion on the 16^th June 1915. The 12^th Battalion were on the southern portion of the Anzac Battlefield. Reg served with them through June and July, and in the beginning of August when the 12^th Battalion were called in to assist the 1^st Brigade during the attack on Lone Pine. On August 8^th the 1^st Brigade had managed to capture the Turkish trenches but faced severe pressure in holding them as the Turks fought back desperately. The 12^th Battalion came in and assisted in bombing back the Turks. During this fighting Reg was killed in action in the Lone Pine Trenches. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing.

His younger brother Leslie Falkner (born 1899) served in the war with the Australian Army Medical Corps and survived hostilities.