Reginald James Thomas joined the The Rifle Brigade on the 1st September 1914 in Birmingham as a Special Reserve following the start of WW1 on the 28th July 1914. Initialy Reginald was part of the 15th (Reserve) Battalion and was posted to Sheerness, Queensborough, Southend-on-Sea & Belhurst Park.
Following the heavy losses incured by the 8th Bn Rifle Brigade at Hooge, Belgium in July 1915 during the first German Flamethrower attack Reginald was transferred to the 8th Bn Rifle Brigade and joined the British Expeditionary Force in France / Belgium on the 4th August 1915.
Reginald Thomas was shot in the leg and died later in Hospital on the 2nd October 1915 close to Hooge, Belgium aged 22.