Tuhia he tomokanga mō tēnei wāhanga - I whakaakona ia ki te Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, ā, i tonoa ki te Royal Artillery i te tau 1875. I mahi ia i te Pakanga Tuarua o Ingarangi-Afghan mai i te 1878 ki te 1880, me te Pakanga Ingarangi-Ihipa
o te tau 1884. I whakatairangahia ia ki te rangatira i te tau 1892. I whakatairangahia a Thomas ki te Koronela i te tau 1899 ka whawhai ia i te Pakanga Tuarua o Ingarangi-Boer i waenga i te 1899 me te 1901, i te wa e rua nga wa i whakahuatia ai ia i roto i nga karere. I te tau 1901 i whakawhiwhia ia hei hoa mo te Tohu Ratonga Motuhake, me te hoa o te Tohu o te Bath i te tau 1904. I waenga i te 1909 me te 1911 ko ia te pirihimana-rahitanga o te 3rd Division Artillery, i mua i te mahi hei pirihimana-rahitanga o te 24th Division Artillery i waenga i te 1914 me te 1915.