Thomas Philpott was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, on 6 May 1901, the son of Lieutenant Montague George Philpott, Royal Navy, and Isabella Hogg Philpott (née Cownie). In April 1911 the Philpott family was living 2, St. Ronan’s Road, Southsea, Hampshire, and Thomas had a three year old younger brother (Montague) and a six-month old sister, (Margaret).

Thomas Philpott joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on 15 January 1915. His father, who had been promoted to Commander, and who had been living at 4, The Parade, HM Dockyard, Portsmouth, died in the King Edward VII Hospital, Grosvenor Gardens in September 1915. Thomas Philpott was promoted to Midshipman on 26 September 1917 and was appointed to the battleship HMS NEPTUNE on the same date. He was then appointed to the battleship HMS VALIANT on 12 February 1919. Apart from five months in the destroyer HMS VERITY from June to November 1919, he served in HMS VALIANT until January 1921.

At the time of the 1921 Census he was at home with his widowed mother and his sister Ruth at 35, Cyril Mansions, Battersea. Having been promoted to Sub Lieutenant he then joined the destroyer HMS VIVIEN until he was appointed to Cambridge University ‘for a course of instruction’ on 19 April 1922. He joined submarines on 1 January 1923 when he was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN ‘for the Submarine Course’ and then to the Submarine Flotilla Leader HMS CONQUEST ‘for Submarine K2 for ‘N’ duties’ on 13 April 1923. Eight months later on 29th December 1923 he joined HMS DOLPHIN ‘for Submarine M1 for ‘G’ duties’.

On 12 November 1925 he was on board HMS M1, as Gunnery Officer, in West Bay Portland when the submarine was lost with all hands after being in collision with the merchant vessel SS VIDAR. Thomas Philpott of 9 Hawes Place, Cambridge, was unmarried  and his effects were left to his mother who was his Next of Kin.