Thomas was born in Edmonton, London, the youngest son, one of at least eleven children of George Alexander (a general labourer who had previously served in the Royal Artillery) and Elizabeth Wasmuth of 9 Glasgow Road, Angel Road, Upper Edmonton.
Employed as a brass foundry worker, he enlisted on 14th September 1914 at St. Paul's Churchyard, London.
He went to France on 21st July 1915 and received a gunshot wound to his nose on 27th September while in the front line trenches at Laventie. After treatment in hospital in England he was discharged and granted nine days’ home leave on 10th January 1916. He was then posted to 14th Battalion on 5th February and appointed as lance corporal on 1st June.
Thomas returned to France on 25th June 1916 and joined the 12th Battalion in the field five days later.
Thomas died on 28th August 1916, aged 22, whilst in trenches opposite Guillemont.
He was one of four men killed at the same time, two others (Riflemen Graham Montagu and Walter Wale) are also commemorated on Pier & Face 13A. Another, Rifleman Henry Elworthy Macdonald, has a marked grave in Delville Wood Cemetery.
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