My great grandfather, William THOMSON immigrated to Australia about 1865. When he passed away, a news item stated that he was a Sergeant in the Queensland Volunteer Rifles, and a well-respected Crimean War veteran.
I have no idea what unit he served with, or how long he was in the Army, whether a regular or volunteer.
He is believed to be born Belfast Ireland, cc 1833, to James & Esther (CALLANDER) THOMSON.
I found an entry of 3983, Private William THOMSON, 1st Battalion Scots Fuslier Guard, Severely wounded, second Battle of Inkermann, 05 Nov 1854.
Anyway of finding my great grandfather, or whether this wounded soldier is the man.
Thanks for any help.
Regards from Australia.
William THOMSON Crimean War
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Lost Emu
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Currie
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Hello Lost Emu,
Have you been able to trace your great grandfather before his arrival in Australia? Where and when he was married, birth of children, census returns etc.
If these events occurred in a country where the records still exist they may contain information that would make it much easier to trace his military records.
Apart from what you’ve already mentioned what do you know about him and his family before 1865?
All the best,
Alan
Have you been able to trace your great grandfather before his arrival in Australia? Where and when he was married, birth of children, census returns etc.
If these events occurred in a country where the records still exist they may contain information that would make it much easier to trace his military records.
Apart from what you’ve already mentioned what do you know about him and his family before 1865?
All the best,
Alan
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Lost Emu
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- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:55 pm
- Location: Australia
Have you any idea if acces to that William THOMSON's Army records can be accessed for that unit?Currie wrote:Hello Lost Emu,
Have you been able to trace your great grandfather before his arrival in Australia? Where and when he was married, birth of children, census returns etc.
If these events occurred in a country where the records still exist they may contain information that would make it much easier to trace his military records.
Apart from what you’ve already mentioned what do you know about him and his family before 1865?
All the best,
Alan
There much more posted on the other developing forum.
Regards
George
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Currie
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- Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:20 am
- Location: Australia
Hello George,
The information you have appeared in London Gazette Issue 21639 published on the 11 December 1854, Page 4035.
Battle of Inkerman, 5th November, 1854, 1st Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards,
3983, Private William Thomson, Severely
There are a number of Crimea casualty lists, including hospital deaths, on the www and I don’t really know how complete any of them are or whether everyone who didn’t make it back home gets a mention, even in the Gazette. Maybe they’re all in WO 25/3325 Index to Casualty Returns at National Archives.
What were the chances of a severely wounded soldier outlasting the initial casualty count and living to tell the tale? Your guess is as good as mine but to get a handle on the situation for the wounded in Crimea read this page.
http://www.royalarmouries.org/extsite/v ... ionId=3126
You could spend a year studying the Crimean War, the nature of the conflict, the type and categorisation of wounds, the survival rate of those hospitalised, trade skills required of those supplying food to the troops etc. Then there’s the question of the fitness requirements of the Queensland Unit, and the chances of the story of a severe, probably life threatening, very obvious wound being passed on by family.
It just becomes a game of guesswork and the weighing up of odds. You could apply and pay for a search and if there is a record and perhaps if you are very lucky you might find he was born in the place and the time you want.
This document clearly sets out the information available, the minimum information required to identify a soldier and the fees charged. You may either confirm or eliminate him by applying for his records or just end up no further advanced than you are now. (See in particular WO 14 Scutari, Turkey, Depot Muster Books and Pay Lists) http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... 0_1913.pdf
There could be a nice easy answer out there somewhere but not having researched a Crimean War soldier before I don’t know of one. Any contributions by those who have would be most welcome.
Hope this helps and good luck,
Alan
The information you have appeared in London Gazette Issue 21639 published on the 11 December 1854, Page 4035.
Battle of Inkerman, 5th November, 1854, 1st Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards,
3983, Private William Thomson, Severely
There are a number of Crimea casualty lists, including hospital deaths, on the www and I don’t really know how complete any of them are or whether everyone who didn’t make it back home gets a mention, even in the Gazette. Maybe they’re all in WO 25/3325 Index to Casualty Returns at National Archives.
What were the chances of a severely wounded soldier outlasting the initial casualty count and living to tell the tale? Your guess is as good as mine but to get a handle on the situation for the wounded in Crimea read this page.
http://www.royalarmouries.org/extsite/v ... ionId=3126
You could spend a year studying the Crimean War, the nature of the conflict, the type and categorisation of wounds, the survival rate of those hospitalised, trade skills required of those supplying food to the troops etc. Then there’s the question of the fitness requirements of the Queensland Unit, and the chances of the story of a severe, probably life threatening, very obvious wound being passed on by family.
It just becomes a game of guesswork and the weighing up of odds. You could apply and pay for a search and if there is a record and perhaps if you are very lucky you might find he was born in the place and the time you want.
This document clearly sets out the information available, the minimum information required to identify a soldier and the fees charged. You may either confirm or eliminate him by applying for his records or just end up no further advanced than you are now. (See in particular WO 14 Scutari, Turkey, Depot Muster Books and Pay Lists) http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/docu ... 0_1913.pdf
There could be a nice easy answer out there somewhere but not having researched a Crimean War soldier before I don’t know of one. Any contributions by those who have would be most welcome.
Hope this helps and good luck,
Alan
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Lost Emu
- Posts: 11
- Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 9:55 pm
- Location: Australia
Hi Alan,
Thanks for that information and I will check out those sites.
The reason why I responded in the way I did, as I can vaguely remember from family stories that William had a chest complaint, and he possibly carried it for a long time. He eventually died from the complaint in 1886. And I believed that maybe he had survived the wound, which resulted in this chest complaint.
I thought much the same as you of the survival rate of any sort of wound.
There was no fitness requirements for the Queensland Volunteer Rifles as I gathter that he was one of the foundation members in getting it going in the town of Maryborough. I also believe that because of his Army service, more so than his Crimean War service, is why he was probably the most proficient person to get it started and was granted the rank of Sergeant.
When he died, he was given a full military burial, with a large military band, and ninety men of his unit, including 3000 people of the town, which would possibly be the population in those days.
The unit supplied many men from that area at the turn of the century in the Boer War. William's son, William served in the unit and later on served with the 3rd Bushmens Contingent, 1900-1901, and then the 3rd AustComHorse Bn in 1902 in South Africa.
Thanks again for those sites.
Regards
George
Thanks for that information and I will check out those sites.
The reason why I responded in the way I did, as I can vaguely remember from family stories that William had a chest complaint, and he possibly carried it for a long time. He eventually died from the complaint in 1886. And I believed that maybe he had survived the wound, which resulted in this chest complaint.
I thought much the same as you of the survival rate of any sort of wound.
There was no fitness requirements for the Queensland Volunteer Rifles as I gathter that he was one of the foundation members in getting it going in the town of Maryborough. I also believe that because of his Army service, more so than his Crimean War service, is why he was probably the most proficient person to get it started and was granted the rank of Sergeant.
When he died, he was given a full military burial, with a large military band, and ninety men of his unit, including 3000 people of the town, which would possibly be the population in those days.
The unit supplied many men from that area at the turn of the century in the Boer War. William's son, William served in the unit and later on served with the 3rd Bushmens Contingent, 1900-1901, and then the 3rd AustComHorse Bn in 1902 in South Africa.
Thanks again for those sites.
Regards
George