Thomas Henry O'Dea (SN 4560) born at Footscray, was an 18 year old blacksmith when he first enlisted in the AIF in Ballarat on April 12th 1915. His first period of service was short as he was discharged medically unfit on June 18th. He enlisted again in Ballarat on July 19th , trained with the 8th Infantry Battalion, then embarked aboard the Themistocles on January 26th 1916. After reaching Egypt he was transferred to the 58th Battalion before moving to France in September. During his service he was wounded on three occasions, the most serious being a gunshot wound to his right arm in October 1917. His service also included multiple discipline breaches and associated penalties, and he was returned to Australia aboard the Castalia</em 'for disciplinary reasons'. He disembarked at Melbourne on May 30th 1919 and was discharged on June 29th. Despite his tumultuous WW1 experience, he enlisted again to serve in WW2 (SN V82488) but spent his time at Broadmeadows before being discharged as medically unfit in January 1942.

His brother John also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.