Description
King’s South Africa Medal, 2 bars, SA 1901, SA 1902, 1730 Pte Thomas Rawle, E. Yorks Regt, from Cardiff, Wales. An extremely poorly behaved young soldier in his younger years.
Officially impressed: “1730 Pte. T. Rawle. E. York: Regt”
Confirmed on the medal roll, additionally earning the Queen’s Medal with 2 bars for Wittebergen and Cape Colony for services with the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment.
Mr Thomas Rawle, was born circa 1865 in Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales.
His conduct on discharge is best described as “Latterly Good”, his detailed set of service records are dominated by various copies of the regimental defaulters books, which detail his early years in the Army, where he was in and out of prison, when he could be located, he was often missing from morning drills, when found he was often drunk, which would bring out some nasty language to his superior officers and some violence, his kit was often misplaced, on one occasion on service in South Africa 1890, he deserted the regiment and went missing for over 6 months, later surrendered with none of his Army Kit in plain clothes, he was arrested and sentenced by Court Martial, almost 3 months in prison.
He first joined the Army at Beverley, on 18th August 1885, attesting for service with the East Yorkshire Regiment.
He was 19 years old, and had worked for 3 years as a Carpenter in Cardiff.
He saw the following services:
Home, 17th August 1885 – 12th Jan 1886
Gibraltar, 13th Jany – 12th Nov 1886
West Indies, 13th Nov 1886 – 22nd Oct 1888
South Africa, 23rd October 1888 – 2nd Jany 1890
Home, 3rd January 1890 – 13th March 1900
South Africa, 14th March 1900 – 18th March 1902.
Home, 19th March 1902.
Medals and Decorations: South Africa, (Queen’s) Medal, Wittebergen, Cape Colony.
The Kings Medal, 1901, 1902
Injuries; Received injuries by Violence, 22nd July 1893.
Trial at Beverley, 29th July 1890:
1st CHARGE, Deserting Her Majestys Services, in that he at Wynberg South Africa, on the 3rd Jnuary 1890 absented himself from the 1st Bn East Yorkshire Regiment until the 24th July 1890 when he surrendered to the Military Authorities at Beverley dressed in plain clothes.
SECONDLY, Losing by neglect his clothing and regimental necessities, in that, he at Wynberg South Africa on the 3rd January 1890 was deficient of 1 Junie, 1 Kersey Frock, 1 Serge Frock, 1 pair trousers, 1 Pair trousers (tweed), 2 pairs of boots, 1 pair of boots, 1 helmet, 1 waterproof bag, 1 plain braces, 1 cloth brush, 1 flannel shirt, pairs of socks.”
“Guily of all the charges to be imprisoned with hard labour for 84 days and to be put under stoppages of pay until he shall have made good the value of the articles of clothing deficient, dated 29th July 1890.”
