Thomas Mottershead was born on 17 January 1892, one of a family of 10.[citation needed] Mottershead married Lilian Bree on 10 February 1914, and was working as a garage mechanic when World War I began. Prior to enlisting in the Royal Flying Corps on 10 August 1914 as a mechanic, Mottershead had studied engineering and had been apprenticed as a fitter working in Widnes.[citation needed] He was posted to the Central Flying school at Upavon and was promoted to Sergeant on 1 April 1916.