Thomas Leslie Cockerall was born in Ballarat and was a Labourer by trade and actually enlisted twice. Once when he with the 7th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement on 5 October 1914 at the age of 24 with Regimental Number 1321. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on 2 February 1915. On May 16th he was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to his left leg. He was evacuated to hospital and then on to the Ballarat for return to Australia. On January 19th 1916 he was discharged as æmedically unfit'.

A year later re-enlisted in the Railway Unit, Section 2 on 12 February 1917 at the age of 27 with Regimental Number 688. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on 19 February 1917 and he returned to Australia on 1 July 1919.
Tree No 308