Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the third son of the late James Orton, and his wife Maria, who was the daughter of Samuel Spare. Thomas was educated at Hinckley Council School and was employed as a shoe hand. He volunteered after the outbreak of war joining the 8th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment on the 3rd September 1914, and served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the 28th July to the 20th December 1915 on which day he was killed in action, two months after his elder brother James. His Company Officer, Captain H. L. Beardsley wrote, “It is with much regret, and the deep sympathy of myself and the other officers of my company, that I have to convey the sad news of the death of your boy, who was killed by a sniper on the 20th instant, whilst carrying out his duties, he was shot through the heart and died almost immediately. A thorough, conscientious, hard working lad, he will be sadly missed by us all.” Thomas was unmarried. The War Diary for today records. BETHUNE. The Battalion moved to AUCHEL in the Reserve Division area. Details of moves annexed. On arrival at AUCHEL the Battalion marched to billets which had been arranged by 2nd Lt. DAVIS and the 4 Quarter Master Sergeants.