Claude Benedict O’Dee was the son of Frederick O’Dee and his wife, Katherine, and was born in East Melbourne on 8 February 1897.  At the time of Claude’s birth Fred, as he was known, was assistant inspector of fisheries.  In 1901 he became the founding president of the Victorian Piscatorial Council. By the time Claude enlisted on 19 February 1918, just eleven days after his 21st birthday, the family had made their permanent home in Dickens Street, Moonee Ponds.  It was this house that in 1902 was struck by lightning in one of Melbourne’s most damaging thunderstorms, which ripped a hole in its roof and threw Mrs. O’Dee out of her bed.  Claude escaped unscathed.  He was educated at Christian Brothers College, Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, where he excelled at athletics. On leaving school Claude gave his occupation as clerk.  Possibly this was with his father’s firm, Little and Co, tailors, of Swanston Street, Melbourne, as this is where his eldest brother, Leslie, had been working as a clerk at the time of his enlistment in 1915.  The business went into receivership in August 1918 and was sold.  Claude was appointed to the Recruit Depot Battalion as a private and sent to Broadmeadows for training.
He embarked from Sydney aboard RMS Orontes on 5 June 1918 with the 3rd General Services Reinforcements and disembarked at Liverpool on 11 August 1918.  He was went to the 9th Training Battalion at Fovant where he was allotted t the 39th Battalion, Reinforcements.  He was promoted to ER (Extra Regimental) 2/Corporal on 1 August 1919.

He returned to Australia on 5 May 1919, disembarked on 25 October, and was discharged on 17 November 1919.  He was one of the few who was never admitted to hospital during his period of service.
In 1939 he was a member of the committee which organised a ball for members of the civil service which provides a good clue to his life after the war.
His war service is commemorated on the honour roll of the Essendon Town Hall.