Description
Canada General Service Medal, bar Fenian Raid 1866, 969 Private T.C. Herbert, 2nd Bn 17th Leicestershire Regiment, Rare British Regiment issue, stayed in Canada after the war before returning to Leicester in later life.
Officially Engraved: “969 Pte T.C. Herbert. 2/17 Leic R.”
Typical “Engraved in England” example, upright engraving style as seen on British produced and named examples.
Confirmed on the medal roll. Which recalls the medals being authorised in August 1899, his entry noting his issue address as “2 Rutland Terrace, Grange Lance, Leicester”
Crisp unworn condition and issued not long before his death in 1903.
Thomas Christian Herbert was born circa 1843.
The son of John Christian Herbert and Sarah.
Shown on the 1861 Army Census as on duty with the 2nd 17th Foot at Shorncliffe Dublin and Curragh. At this time he would be newly enlisted about 18 years old.
The 2nd Battalion had been recently formed back in 1858, and the battalion was posted overseas for service in Canada “British North America” being stationed there during the Fenian Raids.
The 2nd 17th would return back home in 1868, but Pte Herbert stayed in the country. Pte Herbert is not on the 1871 Army Index (or any further army records) suggesting that he took the opportunity to take his discharge from the Army to remain in Canada.
He is next seen in 1872, on local marriage records living in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario.
On 4th July 1872 Thomas married Bridget Fawell, a lady living in Kingston, the daughter of Darby and Bridget Fawell.
The records recall he was no longer a serving soldier and now worked as a “Labourer”.
Thomas looks to have in later life returned back home to Leicestershire, receiving his long deserved medal once it was finally issued about 1899-1900 living in Leicester.
He died during March 1903 in Leicestershire.