Thomas was put onto the army reserve list in 1914 but seems not to have been called until the middle of 1915. He joined the RAMC (TF) in the 1st London Sanitary Company and his army number was 527750. He probably went straight to Gallopoli but is believed also to have served in France. He utterley hated the war and was disgusted by the conditions they had to endure such as wet trenches, cold water for shaving and terrible food.

By 1917 he was back in England having reached the rank of Lance Corporal. He had caught dysentry and was waiting to be invalided out of the army. In May and June that year he was at Brocton Camp, possibly guarding prisoners of war, then in July and August he was at Remount Camp at Swaythling near Southampton. He was issued with passes on a monthly basis to be absent from camp after duties and one specific pass to travel to London between 1 and 2 June 1917.

On 20 September 1917, Thomas was issued with a certificate at the Southern Command Discharge Centre at Airlie Hutments Winchester. This instructed him to proceed to his home and await futher instructions as to his discharge from service. His rank was shown on this certificate as Private. The certificate stated that it took effect 21 days from the date of issue and that he should make immediate contact at his local Post Office for pension arrangements. It was not until 19 October that he received his final payment of £5:12:2 from the army, this sum including a gratuity. Thomas was awarded the War Badge for "services rendered" in H.M.'s Military Forces since 4 August 1914. This badge was awarded to service personnel who were medically downgraded on being invalided out of service.

According to Thomas's Registration Card, he was finally discharged from the army on 11 November 1917. However, he continued to receive a pension until the end of 1919 when he was fit to work again. On 23 November 1918 he, along with other soldiers discharged on medical grounds, met the King at Buckingham Palace to receive his praise.

 

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