Description
Sudan Medal 1898, Khedive’s Sudan, bar Khartoum, 4523 Private T. King, 2nd Bn Lancashire Fusiliers, Killed in Action at Spion Kop 24th Jan 1900 Boer War.
Sudan Officially engraved: “4523 Pte T. King. Lanc: Fus:” Neat official correction, only to digits of service number
Khedive’s Officially engraved: “4523 Pte T. King. 2nd L.F.” Naming perfect as issued.
Confirmed on the medal roll for both.
Additionally earned posthumously the Queen’s South Africa, bar Relief of Ladysmith, for his service as a Corporal in the 2nd Lanc Fus until his death in action when killed at Spion Kop.
His entry in the Soldier’s Effects registry recalls that his death was on “24.1.00” place: “Spion Kop S.A.” and that his pension was paid out to his Mother Rose A. in 1902.
Thanks to this note we have been able to possibly trace that he was likely to be the Mr Thomas King, Born 1874 in Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire. The son of Rose Ann King (born 1854, Dublin Ireland).
He is noted at age 8 living with his mother at the “Union Workhouse” in Ashton under Lyne where his mother was a Throstle Spinner in the Cotton Mill.
He is later seen on the 1891 Census living with his older Brother William with the Harrison family in Ashton, meanwhile his mother had moved to Droylsden still working as a Cotton Spinner.
About this time he looks to have initially joined up with the local Militia, there being a set of service records for him under Service Number 3177 in the 3rd Militia Battalion, Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Initially signing on aged 17 years and 6 months old on 23rd September 1891.
His records note that he was initially present for his 49 days of drill on enlistment but then notably “Absent 1893”.
It looks like instead he signed on for the real thing, after turning 18 and joining the full time Lancashire Fusiliers.
