Thomas Hughes joined the Army 2 March 1931. He served with The Grenadier Guards before volunteering for the airborne forces.

After completing parachute jump training at RAF Ringway, 1940/41, he was posted at first to L Trp 2 SAS. He  then  became a member of The 1st Parachute Battalion, T Coy, 11 Pln and took part in the North African campaign, during Op Torch. 

Thomas was killed in action on 5 February 1943, aged 23 years old. He is now commemorated on the Memorial at Medjez-el-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia.