| PERSONAL DETAILS | |
|---|---|
| Name/Alias | Thomas THORNDYCROFT (many surname variations). |
| Birth date and place | c. 1826, Linton, Maidstone, Kent, England. |
| Baptism date and place | |
| Civil Census Residences | Waterman’s Road, Woolwich, Kent (1851). Brompton Hospital for Royal Engineers, Brompton, Kent (1861). (Royal Engineers Establishment, Brompton Barracks – wife and five children (1861). Her Majesty’s Royal Hospital for In Pensioners, Chelsea, London (1871). |
| Trade | Wheeler. |
| Physical Description | Height: 5 ft. 9 ins. Complexion: fair. Eyes: blue. Hair: brown. |
| Marriage date and place | 18 Feb 1848 St Mary’s Church, Higham, Kent. |
| Spouse | Caroline HIGGINS. |
| Children | Thomas Edward b. 1846, Frindsbury or Strood, Kent (as Thorndicraft). Elizabeth (Fanny?) b. 1849, Woolwich, Kent. Samuel James b. 1851, Woolwich, Kent (as Thorndycraft [baptism] and Thornedecraft [registration]). Caroline b. 1853, Fremantle, Western Australia. Harry b. 1855, Fremantle, Western Australia (as Thorndycraft). Jessie b. 1858 (d. 1-day old), Fremantle, Western Australia. Jessie b. 1859, Fremantle, Western Australia (as Thorndicroft). |
| Death date and place | Admitted to Chelsea Hospital In-Patient 1 Apr 1869. 13 May 1875 Chelsea Hospital, Middlesex. Cause of Death: Disease of the lungs and secondary heart affection. |
| Burial date and place | 17 May 1875, The West London Cemetery, Brompton, Kent. |
| Will and Probate | None. |
| Death Notices | |
| ROYAL NAVY SERVICE DETAILS | |
| Service, Ship & Medals | Service in the Royal Navy for six years (c.1840 – 1845). Note: Service records not available from The National Archives prior to 1853. Naval General Service Medal for Syria on Her Majesty’s steam frigate Vesuvius. Employed during the operations on the coast of Syria and attack on St Jean d’Acre [ADM171-6-259,262]. |
| ARMY SERVICE DETAILS | |
| Corps and Company | Royal Engineers 20th Company (formerly Royal Sappers & Miners). |
| Service No. and Rank | #386 Sapper. |
| Attestation date and place | 28 Sep 1847 Woolwich, Kent. |
| Service/Campaigns | Western Australia 8 years. |
| Musters | WO11-126 20th Company, Woolwich (1851). WO11-130 (1852) to WO11-169 (1959) Western Australia. WO11-191 22nd Company, Chatham and Oregon (1861). |
| Promotions | None. |
| Medals, Clasps and Badges | Three Good Conduct Badges. |
| Other Awards & Prizes | |
| Casualty/Medical | This man’s health has been failing ever since his return from Australia about two years. He now suffers from shortness of breath and cough – he has also had haemoptysis. He has been doing light duty only for months past. He is unfit for further service in consequence of emphysema of the lungs and secondary heart affection. (Left lung chiefly affected). (Signed Chatham 17th September 1861). |
| Courts Martial | None. One Regimental Offence (details unknown). |
| Discharge date and place | 31 Oct 1861 Chatham. |
| Length of Service | 13 years 34 days. |
| Chelsea Pension Reference | WO97-1364-101. |
| Post Discharge Residence | The Marquis of Anglesey, Woolwich. |
| Pension | 9d. per diem for four years. |
| ARRIVAL IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA | |
| Ship | Marion. |
| 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. |
| Ship ex-WA | Robert Morrison. |
| Departure date and destination | Dep. Fremantle 4 Oct 1859 for Cape of Good Hope and London. |
