| PERSONAL DETAILS | |
|---|---|
| Name/Alias | James THOMSON. |
| Birth date and place | 14 Oct 1837 Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland. |
| Baptism date and place | |
| Civil Census Residences | |
| Trade | Mason. |
| Physical Description | Height: 5 ft. 7 ins. Complexion: fresh. Eyes: blue. Hair: dark brown. |
| Marriage date and place | 25 Oct 1861 Fremantle, Western Australia. |
| Spouse | Ellen SCOTT. |
| Children | Ellen Louise b. 1862, Ballymore, Westmeath, Ireland. Elizabeth Grace b. 1864 (d.1865), Weymouth, Dorset, England. Amelia Grace b. 1866, Weymouth, Dorset. Clara Madeline b. 1868, Portsea, Hampshire. |
| Death date and place | 17 Feb 1888 Fort George, Inverness, Scotland. Cause of Death: Pneumonia 8 days. Certified by L.W. Swabey, L.R.C.P.C. Surgeon Medical Staff. |
| Burial date and place | Feb 1888 Ardersier Cemetery, near Fort George, Inverness (see sidebar). |
| Will and Probate | Inventory & Affidavit, Court Books of Inverness, 19 Mar 1888, pp.295-296. Personal Estate £153 10s. 3d. Executrix Ellen (nee Scott) Thomson. |
| Death/Funeral Notices | |
| ARMY SERVICE DETAILS | |
| Corps and Company | Royal Engineers 20th Company (formerly Royal Sappers & Miners). |
| Service No. and Rank | #2705 Sapper. |
| Attestation date and place | 14 Dec 1854 Glasgow, Lanark. 2 May 1867 Weymouth re-engaged for a further period of 9 years. |
| Service/Campaigns | Western Australia 5 years 35 days. Bermuda 3 years 189 days. Gibraltar 2 years 89 days. |
| Musters | WO11-158 (1858) to WO11-207 (1862) Western Australia. WO11-362 29th Company, Bermuda (1871). |
| Promotions | Sapper to 2nd Corporal 1 Feb 1864. 2nd Corporal to Corporal 1 Apr 1866. Corporal to Sergeant 1 Feb 1875. |
| Medals, Clasps and Badges | Four Good Conduct Badges. Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. |
| Other Awards | 2nd Class School Certificate. |
| Casualty/Medical | None. |
| Regimental Court Martial | 6 Apr to 9 Apr 1867. Tried for drunkenness. 10 Apr 1867 Remitted. |
| Discharge date and place | 21 Aug 1877 Pembroke Dock, South Wales. |
| Length of Service | 21 years 312 days. |
| Chelsea Pension Reference | WO97-1857-31. |
| Post Discharge Residence | Pembroke Dock, South Wales. |
| Pension District | |
| Pension | 19d. per diem. |
| ARRIVAL IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA | |
| Ship | Nile. |
| Departure and Arrival dates | Dep. Plymouth 23 Sep 1857. Arr. Fremantle 1 Jan 1858. |
| Occupations post-arrival in WA | Instructing Warder. |
| Subscriptions to Funds | None. |
| Land Acquisition | None in Western Australia. |
| Newspaper Articles | |
| Ship ex-WA | Lincelles. |
| Departure date and destination | Dep. Fremantle 27 Apr 1862 for Cape of Good Hope and London. |
[Photographs of James & Ellen Thomson and the Ardersier Gravestone;
Estate Inventory records courtesy of Patsy Graham, New Zealand]