He was born in Gravesend, Kent. His father was William Thomas and mother was Maude Henrietta Barton. He attended Gravesend Grammar School (1926–29), The King's School, Rochester (1929–32), Tonbridge School (1932–35) and Medway Technical College (1937–39). He was graduated from the Imperial College London and obtained his PhD degree in Organic Chemistry in 1942.