 Thomas Weldon was born at 3 Bryanston Mansions, York Street, Marylebone, London, in 1896.After an education at Tonbridge School, he won a scholarship to read "Literae humaniores" at Magdalen College, Oxford, which he postponed to become an officer in the Royal Field Artillery in 1915.He spent World War I in France and Belgium, rising to acting captain, being wounded and winning the Military Cross and bar.