Description
Queen’s South Africa, 6 bars, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901, 5466 Private Tom Cousins, 2nd Bn West Yorks Regt. Sent home to prison convicted for disobeying a lawful order, 4 years sentence.
Officially impressed: “5466 Pte J. Cousins, W. Yorkshire Regt.”
Confirmed on the medal roll, which clearly notes him as “J” but his initial was “T”, reasonably common mistake to see due to the similarity when written.
All clasps confirmed, issued with the 5 bars medal and later earned the SA 1901.
With copy photographs of him from Ancestry.com family tree, 2 in Military Uniform wearing the medal and 1 later life in a suit.
Tom Cousins was born during April 1880 and baptised 1st May 1881 in Cawood, York, Yorkshire.
As a Farm Labourer he enlisted when 18, having been a member of the 4th (Militia) Bn West Yorkshire Regt on 22nd Feb 1899.
However in the middle of the Boer War he must have disobeyed a very serious command as on 22nd November 1901:
“Tried by Field General Court martial and convicted of disobeying in such a manner as to show wilful defiance of authority a lawful command given personally by his superior officer in the execution of his office and sentenced to 42 days of filed imprisonment number No 1.”
It was then noted that: “Tried by F.G.C.M. for wilfully disobeying and sentenced to 4 years of Penal Servitude.”
The Court Martial registers note that this was a joint sentence with 5521 Arthur Butler (a particularly bad influence having many pages of disobedience), 4463, J. Harvey for Section 8(2) Insubordinate Language
After some time in prison the sentence was reduced on 12th June 1902:
“Discharge cancelled and sentences commuted to 2 years of imprisonment with hard labour.”
After this he actually managed to remain in the Army being given a second chance, finishing out his 12 years of service, he remained in the Army Reserve long enough to be recalled for service in WW1.
He was recalled on 5th August 1914 and served with the “Old Contemptibles” in France from 24th September 1914 until 19th November 1914.
Being invalided by a “Wounded: Neck (Septic) Serious, France 1914 List 3756”
For his WW1 service entitled to the 1914 Star Trio.
Total service:
Home, 23rd Feb 1899 – 19th Oct 1899
South Africa, 20th oct 1899 – 6th March 1902
Home, 7th March 1902 – 3rd March 1903
South Africa, 4th March 1903 – 2nd June 1904
Home, 3rd June 1904 – 21st Feb 1907
Army Reserve, 22nd Feb 1909 – 4th August 1914
France, 24th Sept 1914 – 19th Nov 1914
Home, 20th Nov 1914 – 21st Feb 1916.
In between the Boer War and WW1, he had moved to Belfast and Antrim, Northern Ireland, where he had about 6 children.
He died in Armagh, Northern Ireland on 2nd September 1944.
