Thomas was born, in Felixstowe, on August 22, 1878, to James and Eliza Burrows; he was one of 9 children.  In 1911 they lived at Blacksmith Cottage, Blacksmith Lane in Felixstowe.

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He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds and served in the Royal Fusiliers London Regiment.

 

He is buried in Annois Communal Cemetery which contains 61 burials from a German Field Hospital. The field hospital was part of the Flavy-le-Martel prison camp.  It is thought that Thomas may have been a prisoner of war and died from his wounds on June 8, 1918 at the age of 39.

 

He is commemorated on Felixstowe Seafront Memorial and on the WW1 memorial in St Peter and St Paul Church.