Thomas Foote (SN 1945) born in Geelong, was an 18 year old farmer when he enlisted in Ballarat on July 26th 1916. Assigned to the 39th Battalion his unit embarked from Melbourne aboard the Orontes on August 16th. He was serving in France when on June 7th 1917 he was seriously wounded in action. He suffered gunshot wounds to his left arm and shoulder and his right leg and was evacuated to hospital in England. He was able to rejoin his unit in October but was limited by his arm wound, and in January 1918 he was returned to hospital. It was then decided he should return to Australia and he arrived back in Melbourne on July 5th 1918 where he was discharged as 'medically unfit' on October 25th.

His brothers Isaac and Hubert also served in the AIF and are honoured with a tree in the Avenue.