Thomas was born in Ballarat, VIC in 1892⁽²⁾. He was a labourer when he enlisted at Bacchus Marsh, VIC in the AIF, 7^th Battalion, E Company on the 28^th of August 1914 - only a few weeks after war was declared - aged 22. Thomas embarked aboard the HMAT A20 Hororata in October, disembarking in Egypt in December.

Thomas landed at Gallipoli on the 25^th of April 1915. He returned to Alexandria, Egypt in May on transport duties, rejoining his unit on Lemnos in September. In October he was again on transport details to Alexandria for a week before rejoining his unit at Mudros. His service record is a bit inconsistent at this point; it also states that he was AWL for three weeks from mid September, for which he forfeited 22 days pay. In February 1916, in Egypt, he was AWL for two days for which he forfeited two days pay. The following month he was absent from parade for four days and was awarded 120 hours detention and forfeited five days pay. Thomas embarked from Egypt in late May.

In June 1916 Thomas disembarked at Plymouth, England. He was again AWL for two weeks in July - 18 days detention, forfeited 36 days pay - and then again in September - 12 days detention and loss of 12 days pay. While in detention he was again AWL for two weeks for which he was given a further 26 days detention and lost a further 46 days pay.

Thomas embarked for France in November 1916 and joined the 1^st Pioneers. In February 1917 he was invalided back to England and admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital, Norwich suffering from influenza. In late March he was discharged to two weeks furlough - classified B1A, temporarily unfit - rejoining his unit in France in October. Thomas was suffering from a fever of unknown origin in December and sent back to England and admitted to the 4^th Southern General Hospital, rejoining his unit in France in March 1918. In April Thomas was transferred to the 1^st Machine Gun Company for just under three weeks before being transferred back to the 1^st Pioneers again. Thomas suffered a gunshot wound to the left foot in July and was invalided back to England and admitted to the Brook War Hospital, Woolwich before embarking for home aboard the Takada in December, returning to Australia in February and was discharged from the AIF in April.

Thomas was living in Ballarat, VIC in 1923 and may have enlisted in the Army during WW2⁽³⁾.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.

Notes

1. An A was added to his Service No. when he briefly transferred to the 1^st Machine Gun Company. Whether he reverted to his original numer when he returned to the 1^st Pioneers is not clear.
2. From the indexes of BDM there are two possibilities:-
   Thomas Oliver b. Ballarat in 1892 to David Oliver and Emma Jenkins
   Thomas Oliver b. Ballarat East 1891 to Thomas Oliver and Lillian Cartledge.
3. There was a Thomas Oliver who married Lillian Cartledge in 1919 and served in the Army from 1939 till 1943 however his date of birth is given as 23/8/1893 - the Marriage Certificate might help resolve this.