Thomas was born on the 24th April 1882 in Holmwood, Newcastle upon Tyne. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Hudson Bainbridge of Eshott Hall, Felton, Northumberland, and was the grandson of the founder of the Bainbridges Department store, Emerson Muschamp Bainbridge. He was educated privately at Dr Osborns, Colwyn Bay and then at Armstrong College, Durham, between 1913 and 1915. He qualified as an electrical engineer and entered the shipbuilding yard of Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson, where he was an assistant manager. In his spare time, Thomas was a very keen motorist and an all-round sportsman.
Thomas' brother Wilfred Hudson Bainbridge was also killed in the war, on 15th March 1916, and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France.
On the outbreak of war, Thomas volunteered for Imperial service and, after being stationed at Blyth, left for the Front in April 1915. Thomas was killed in action on the 25th or 26th April 1915 at the aged 32 whilst he was involved in an attack on St Julien, near Ypres.