Thomas was the son of Louisa Watson and enlisted at Ilkeston on 21st August 1915, which was his 19th Birthday. He went to France with the Battalion on 1st February 1916 and was sadly Killed in Action on 25th August 1917, which was four days after his 20th birthday.  

The Long Eaton Advertiser of 26th July 1918 stated that he was making his way to a dressing station down a communication trench with a wound to his hand. The route to the dressing station was being heavily shelled at the time and he was sadly killed.