Thomas, Hilary Michael Peter, son of Herbert Samuel Thomas OBE, artist, of Pinner, Middx, and Elizabeth, d. of William LeFroy Bowen of Swansea; b. 26 Jan. 1917; adm. Sept. 1930 (B); left July 1934; a designer and illustrator; enlisted RE Sept. 1939, commissioned The Buffs (Lieut.); killed in a Commando raid (Med.) 29 Jan. 1943.
Hilary Michael Peter Thomas was born in North London on the 26th of January 1917 the son of Herbert Samuel Thomas OBE, an artist, and Elizabeth Florette Gwynne (nee Bowen) Thomas of 9, St Stephens Crescent in London W.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Busby’s from September 1930 to July 1934. He was a member of the 3rd Rowing VIII in 1932. On leaving school he became a designer and illustrator. He enlisted in the Royal Engineers in 1939 and attended an Officer Cadet Training Unit before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) on the 14th of September 1940.
While stationed at Malta with the 4th Battalion of his Regiment he volunteered to take part in a Commando raid on Tunis and was killed during the operation.
He is commemorated on the Medjez-el-Bab Memorial Face 14.