Thomas was born in Tonbridge, Kent, England in 1886. In June 1917, whilst on duty in England, he married Lillah Annells.

click to enlarge
Mena, Egypt, 1914
Courtesy of the AWM

Thomas was officer attached to the local Citizen Forces⁽³⁾, working as a contractor and gave his address as Bacchus Marsh, VIC when he enlisted at Footscray in the AIF, 7^th Battalion, E Company on the 15^th of August 1914, aged nearly 30 - shortly after war was declared - his service record states that he had previously served in the Special Reserve. Less than a week later he was appointed Company Sergeant Major⁽¹⁾ before he embarked aboard the HMAT A20 Hororata in October and disembarked in Egypt at the beginning of December.

Thomas landed at Gallipoli on the 25^th of April 1915 and was shot through the jaw⁽²⁾, fracturing the mandible. Four days later he was admitted to the 15^th General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt. In Late May he was transferred to the HS Nevasa before he was admitted to the 1^st Southern General Hospital, Stourbridge, Birmingham, England in late May. A month later he was transferred to the 1^st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex and then to a convalescent hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom from where he was discharged in August. In November he was admitted to C of L War Hospital, Epsom for a week and then discharged to Woodcote.

In February 1916 Thomas was promoted to Temporary Regimental Sergeant Major until late September when he reverted to Company Sergeant Major. He transferred to Headquarters, AIF Depots in October. Thomas was promoted to Extra Regimental Sergeant Major and attached for duty with the 2^nd Training Battalion. On the 25^th of April 1918 Thomas reverted to Company Sergeant Major and transferred to the 1^st Training Battalion. From August until December he was on leave with out pay - family reasons - and in April 1919 was granted indefinite leave before he embarked for Australia aboard the Lucie Woerman in early December, returning to Australia in late January 1920 and was discharged from the AIF in May.

Thomas died about 1923, possibly in England.

He is listed on the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour and the Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour.

Notes

1. Melton Express 27 Feb 1915
2. Melton Express 26 Jun 1915
3. The Bacchus Marsh Express 22 Aug 1914