Thomas was born in Stockport and enlisted into the army in the town. His service number suggests that this was in mid-1916. His next-of-kin, as listed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was his older brother, Harry, who lived at 21 Bentley Street in the Lancashire Hill area of town.

On 24 February 1917, the Battalion was in trenches at Le Touquet (not the French town on the Channel) in northern France, close to the border with Belgium. The Battalion's War Diary makes no mention of casualties but other, later, regimental records indicate Thomas was killed in action that day.

Information has been received from one of Thomas' descendents that suggests that he was probably killed by a sniper. The family still has his bullet damaged watch.