Thomas was born at Dundas⁽¹²⁾, VIC, in the Hamilton district on the 20^th of April 1877 to Thomas Skene⁽⁴⁾ and Margaret Scott Anderson.

Thomas was a farmer at Bullengarook⁽⁵⁾, VIC, near Bacchus Marsh, when he and his family⁽⁶⁾ embarked for England⁽⁷⁾⁽⁸⁾ in April 1915 and was granted a commission⁽⁹⁾ as a Lieutenant with the 14^th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers in June - at the time he was too old to join the AIF. Some time later Thomas was wounded in action⁽¹⁰⁾ but after returning to duty suffered a relapse and relinquished his commission in June 1917.

Thomas died at St Kilda, VIC in 1929, aged 52 and was buried in Brighton Cemetery, VIC, with his parents⁽¹¹⁾.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour. He is also remembered in the Coimadai Avenue of Honour.

Notes

1. His first initial should be T not P.
2. 14^th Battalion refers to a British Army Unit, the Northumberland Fusiliers not the AIF.
3. more info
4. Thomas sen.b. 1845, Port Phillip, d. 1910.
   MHR Grampians - The Bacchus Marsh Express 24 Nov 1906
5. Sale of Bullengarook property The Bacchus Marsh Express 11 Feb 1911
6. Marriage The Bacchus Marsh Express 10 May 1913
7. Leaving the district The Bacchus Marsh Express 27 Feb 1915
8. Left the district The Bacchus Marsh Express 10 Apr 1915
9. Recieved commission The Bacchus Marsh Express 10 Jul 1915
10. Wounded in action The Bacchus Marsh Express 14 Apr 1917
11. Family notes - Brighton Cemetery
12. Dundas was a shire which has since been amalgamated with several surrounding shires in about 1994.