Thomas and his twin sister were born in Shackerstone, Leicestershire. During their early years, the family settled in Gillingham, Kent, where their father worked as a fruiterer and greengrocer. By 1939, they had relocated to Rochester, and Thomas was employed as an electrical mains recorder. Following the outbreak of war, he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, serving as a Wireless Operator and Air Gunner with No. 150 Squadron.
On the night of 24 April 1942, Thomas was part of a crew assigned to an operational bombing raid on Dunkirk. Flying aboard Vickers Wellington III X3305, marked JN-X, the aircraft took off from RAF Snaith, Yorkshire – one of ten “freshers” (new aircraft and/or crews) participating in the raid. Conditions included a 62% moon, favourable for night navigation.
Tragically, the Wellington crashed just one mile beyond the runway, near the WAAF site at Pollington. The cause of the crash remains unknown. All six crew members were killed.
Thomas now lies buried in Rochester (St Margaret’s) Cemetery.
