Sir Thomas Ernest Victor Hurley was a 26 year old medical practitioner when he enlisted at the rank of Captain in August 1914. He embarked from Melbourne on the Wiltshire on October 19th 1914. He served with the 2nd Field Ambulance and the 2nd Battalion at Gallipoli, gaining promotion to the rank of Major while he was there. After Gallipoli he served for a time at the 1st Australian General Hospital in Egypt and in March 1916 was temporarily appointed Lieutenant Colonel. After moving to AIF Headquarters in England as Assistant Director of AIF Medical Services, such was the importance of his work that in March 1917 he was Mentioned in Despatches and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. A few months later, he was appointed as a Companion of the Order of St. Michael & St. George (CMG) "for valuable services in connection with the war". After the war, while still in England, he married Elsie Crowther. Returning to Australia aboard the Orvieto, he disembarked at Melbourne on December 12th 1919. He served again in the Second World war and was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1950.

His three brothers, Leslie, Cromwell and Leopold also served in the AIF and are remembered with trees in the Avenue.