Walter John Thomas Blackman (SN 50/Lt.) best known as Tom, was born at Ballarat and was teaching at the Gravel Hill School, Bendigo, when he enlisted in Melbourne on August 19th 1914. He trained briefly with the Medical Corps before embarking aboard the Wiltshire on October 20th and sailing to Egypt. With the 2nd Field Ambulance, he took part in the Gallipoli landing on April 25th 1915 and served there until illness forced his evacuation in October. Diagnosed with enteric fever he was returned to Australia aboard the Nestor. He returned to England in May 1916 and in September he rejoined his unit in France. In February 1917 he was transferred to the 55th Infantry Battalion and in August he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. During the heavy fighting at Polygon Wood in September, he was wounded in an enemy shell explosion, and a physical and mental breakdown was the consequence. He returned to Australia aboard the Karoo and his commission was terminated on August 26th 1919. His ill-health prevented his return to teaching.

His brother Leslie was killed in action in Belgium on June 29th 1916 and his brother Lyle also served in the AIF and they are honoured with trees in the Avenue.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Thomas W. J. Blackman.