Theodore Oswald Surman was born in Cardigan, Victoria and was single when he enlisted with the 5th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement on 4 December 1914 at the age of 39. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A54 Runic on 19 February 1915. On 25 May 1915 he was admitted to the No 1 General Hospital for piles and strain and was transferred to Alexandria two months later. In October of that year he embarked for Mudros, where he re-joined his unit. He was alter admitted to the No. 1 Canadian Stationary Hospital before boarding the Acquitania for England where he was admitted to the City of London War Hospital at Epsom. According to the Surgeon General's office, he returned home to Australia aboard the Acquitania due to rheumatism on 17 March 1916 with the rank of Sergeant.

Sergeant Theodore Oswald Surman died on 17 May 1918 at the age of 42 and is buried at Morwell Cemetery (Plot D, Row R, Grave No. 282), Morwell, Victoria
Tree No. 1213