IGS 1854 disc. Thomas. South Wales Borderers. Imprisoned twice. Served under Mr Bromhead VC of Zulu fame.

Correctly named 628 Pte W Thomas 2nd Bn S Wales Bord.

In a bit of a sorry state this one.

Entitled to the clasp Burma 1887-1889.

William was born in Mountain Ash, Glamorgan and enlisted into the 2nd Bn SW Borderers aged 18 in Brecon. He was already serving in the 3rd Welsh Regiment Militia. In civillian life he is noted a being a haulier, most probably in the coal mines.

His records show his father, Thomas Thomas, living in Llanybie in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire

After his enlistment, he headed to Manchester and then in February1885 boarded HMS Serapis and landed in Bombay in March.

In April 1885 whilst in Wellington, Tamil Nadu, he is accidentally wounded.

We see in the December of 1885, still in Wellington,  he is tried and convicted by Courts Martial and was sent to spend 21 days in prison. The reason is not recorded.

Again, the following December, 1886, he is tried and this time sentenced to 1 year in prison, again the reason is not recorded. By now he is in Rangoon.

Whilst researching the medal rolls, we see that William is on the same rolls as Major Gonville Bromhead (then a Major) of Rourkes Drift fame where he earned his Victoria Cross.

William was discharged as time served in January 1891.