Thomas Charles Galvin was born in Ballarat and was an Engine Driver by trade when he enlisted in the 21st Battalion, D Company on 3 February 1915 at the age of 21. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 10 May 1915. He spent time in Egypt then, in late March 1916, he moved to France to join the 21st Battalion. From this point his time was largely divided between front line trenches and hospital, being wounded on four occasions. He received a severe gunshot wound to his left knee on June 19th 1916 and was evacuated to the 2nd Northern General Hospital in England. On October 9th 1917 he suffered a gunshot wound to his right foot and was evacuated to the Colchester Military Hospital. Once more he recovered and returned to the front only to be wounded again on April 7th 1918. On this occasion his unspecified wounds were slight and he remained on duty. October 5th 1918 saw him wounded for the fourth time. He suffered a shrapnel wound to his right buttock. Just three days later he was withdrawn to the Southern General Hospital at Birmingham, the reason being recorded as æsynovitis both knees'. He was finally able to return home on the Demosthenes, disembarking at Melbourne on March 2nd 1919. Given his wounds, it is interesting that he was discharged as æmedically unfit – defective vision and dyspnoea (shortness of breath)'.
Tree No: 381