Thomas Leslie Cockerall (SN 1321/688) born in Ballarat, was a 24 year old labourer when he first enlisted in Mildura on October 5th1914. Assigned to the 7th Infantry Battalion, he embarked aboard the Clan MacGillivray on February 2nd1915 bound for Gallipoli. In May 1915 he received a gunshot wound to his left leg and was evacuated to hospital in Egypt where he was assessed as unfit to continue active service. He returned to Australia aboard the Ballarat and was discharged ‘medically unfit’ on January 19th 1916. Despite having experienced the horrors of war, now as a 27 year old fireman, he re-enlisted on February 12th 1917 and embarked aboard the Ballarat a week later. In May he reached France and served with the 1st Australian Light Rail Operating Company, this time avoiding serious wounds or illness. He returned to Australia aboard the Karmala, disembarked at Melbourne on August 17th 1919 and was discharged on September 25th.

His brother William was killed in action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, on August 6th 1915 and is also honoured with a tree in the Avenue.