Thomas Martin Garrod was born in London on 24th August 1894. He was educated at New Beacon, Seven Oaks, in Kent and then Marlborough College, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps (OTC). Upon leaving Marlborough, he went to the Inns of Court in London to train as a solicitor, becoming a member of the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. 

On 14th August 1914, just after the war began, Thomas obtained a commission in the 3rd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment as a Second Lieutenant. He was posted to France on 7th January 1915, joining 1st Battalion of the regiment on the 15th and the following month, he was appointed Scouting and Sniping Officer. In April 1915, Thomas was promoted to Lieutenant and joined the officers in charge of “D” Company.

On 9th May 1915, Companies “A”, “B”, and “D” of the battalion made an unsuccessful assault on the Rue du Bois at Richebourg St Vaast. The attack was due to start at 05:30, but the battalion was held up by heavy German machine gun fire. A war diary account of the “Action at Rue de Bois” described what happened next:

“Shortly after 07:00 the three companies climbed over the parapet and moved forward at the double. They were met with a very hot fire from the front and from the left flank, which ultimately checked the line 100 yards in front of the breastworks. Every officer in front was hit and the casualties in other ranks were very heavy.”

Thomas was wounded during the attack and taken to No.1 Field Ambulance, based at Bethune, where he died from his wounds the following day.

For his war service, his family received the 1914-15 Star and the British War and Victory Medals. Thomas is buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas-de Calais, France, and is remembered on Melton War Memorial. His wooden battlefield cross is kept at Melton Old Church.