Thomas was born in Walsham-le-Willows in 1898, the youngest surviving son of James and Laura (née Banthorpe). He had an older brother named John and a sister named Caroline. In 1911, the family was living in Debenham, Suffolk, where James was working as a fowl dealer. The family moved to Melton shortly afterwards and James became the publican at the Railway Tavern (now the Wilford Bridge) for just over a year, until his death in July 1913. He is buried at Melton Old Church.

Thomas was conscripted into the army shortly after he reached the age of eighteen. He was first posted to the 83rd Training Reserve Battalion in Newcastle, before being posted to France. Thomas was to join the 2/4th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) who were fighting to the south of Cambrai. On 20th November 1917, the Battle of Cambrai commenced and the 2/4th KOYLI were in trenches waiting for zero hour. At 06:20, the battalion, supported by the 2/5th KOYLI and the 2/6th West Yorkshire battalions, advanced and, by 08:30, had achieved their objective and continued to push forward. On 23rd November, the battalion was relieved and went into billets at Neuville and a casualty report was compiled; four officers killed and six wounded and two hundred and eleven other ranks killed, wounded or missing.

Thomas was one of those killed on the first day of the Battle of Cambrai. His body was buried initially at Havrincourt Wood Cemetery, before being removed to Hermies Hill Cemetery after the Armistice. His British War and Victory medals were sent to his mother, Laura, who was by this time living on Spring Road (Saddlemaker's Lane) in Melton. Laura died in 1948 and is buried at Melton Old Church.