John Thomas (SN 1425 / 1288) born at Drouin, was a 20 year old printer, when he enlisted in Melbourne on November 13th 1914. On February 2nd 1915 he embarked aboard the Clan Macgillivray and sailed to Egypt before being deployed to Gallipoli with the 5th Infantry Battalion. In June he suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm and was evacuated to hospital at Malta. While recovering, he developed some health issues, particularly enteric fever, and it was decided he should be returned to Australia for three months ‘change’. He returned on the Karoola and disembarked on December 4th 1915. He was expected to report for duty on June 5th 1916 but he failed to do so and was classified as a deserter.