John was the eldest son of Giacomo (John) and Giuditta (Julia) Tome. He was born near Casino NSW where his family lived until coming to the Inverell district c1906. At the age of twenty one he enlisted at Inverell in December 1917. He had been working as a Farmer on the family property ‘Lovely Vale’ at Cherry Tree Hill.
John joined the Light Horse February 1918 Reinforcements and sailed from Australia on SS Port Darwin in April that year, disembarking at Suez, Egypt in June. He served there until returning home in July 1919. Three years later he married Blanche Sanday at Warialda. Several members of his family also served during the Second World War. Following his death in 1960, John was buried at the Inverell Cemetery.
Private John Tome’s name is inscribed on the Ashford, Graman and Oakwood Honor Rolls.