Kammala wannan jumla: An horar da shi a Kwalejin Soja ta Royal, Woolwich kuma an ba shi izini a cikin Royal Artillery a 1875. Ya yi aiki a Yaƙin Anglo-Afghan na biyu daga 1878 zuwa 1880, kuma a cikin
Yaƙin Anglo-Masar na 1884. An daukaka shi zuwa Major a 1892. An ba Thomas mukamin Kanal a 1899 kuma ya yi yaƙi a Yaƙin Anglo-Boer na biyu tsakanin 1899 da 1901, wanda aka ambata shi sau biyu a cikin wasiku. A cikin 1901 an sanya shi Abokin Abokin Sabis na Musamman, kuma Abokin Abokin Bath a cikin 1904. Tsakanin 1909 da 1911 ya kasance brigadier-general na 3rd Artillery Division, kafin ya yi aiki a matsayin brigadier-general na 24th Artillery Division tsakanin 1914 da 1915.