<prompt> Bhala okuqhubekayo kwalesi sigaba - Wafunda eRoyal Military Academy, eWoolwich futhi wathunyelwa eRoyal Artillery ngo-1875. Wakhonza eMpini Yesibili YamaNgisi nama-Afghan kusukela ngo-1878 kuya ku-1880, naseMpini YamaNgisi namaGibhithe  <response>: ngo-1884 ngesiNgisi. Wakhushulwa waba uMajor ngo-1892. UThomas wakhushulelwa esikhundleni sokuba uColonel ngo-1899 futhi walwa eMpini Yesibili YamaNgisi namaBoer phakathi kuka-1899 no-1901, ngesikhathi okukhulunywa ngaso kabili ezincwadini. Ngo-1901 waba yi-Companion ye-Distinguished Service Order, futhi waba yi-Companion ye-Order of the Bath ngo-1904. Phakathi kuka-1909 no-1911 wayeyi-brigadier-general we-3rd Division Artillery, ngaphambi kokukhonza njengebrigadier-general we-24th Division Artillery phakathi kuka-1914 no-1915. 