Thomas was a 28 year old farmer of ‘Irimbra’ Collie, NSW when he enlisted on January 8, 1916. After training he embarked on the HMAT Ceramic on April 14, 1916.
Thomas and his brother Charles enlisted and embarked for France together. They served in the 54th Battalion together. Charles was killed in action in France on March 29, 1917. Thomas was a driver with the 5th Machine Gun Battalion when he returned to Australia on June 6, 1918.