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Picture courtesy of Morton and Eden

QSA (5) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6316 Pte J. Macey. D. Of C. L.I.)

Clasps verified.

Picture courtesy of Spink

IGS 1895 (2) Tirah 1897-98, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (3424. Pte. T. Boraston. 1/D.C.L.I.);
QSA (5) Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (3424 Pte T. Boraston, 2: D. of C. Lt Infy.)

Thomas Boraston was born at Winsor Green, Warwick in 1872. He enlisted in 1891 with 1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and is confirmed on the medal roll for that unit.

Transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and is confirmed on the medal roll. Discharged to 'A' Class reserve after 1901.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (3) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Belfast (5495 Pte. A. Freeman, 2nd D. of C. Lt. Infy.);
KSA (2) (5495 Pte. A. Freeman. D. of C. L.I.)

No service papers for this man.

Picture courtesy of DNW

QSA (6) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (3030 Pte. T. Danning, 2nd D. of C. Lt. Infy.)
[ KSA (2) ]

QSA verified

Private 3424 Thomas Boraston – corrections and additions.

The FMP transcriber responsible for deciphering his Army Service Records was obviously not a “Brummie”. Thomas was born in Winson Green, Birmingham, Warwickshire rather than Winsor Green, Warwick (which does not appear to exist). Winson Green was (and still is) a suburb of Birmingham (in)famous for its prison, it also abutted Smethwick. Thomas actually attested in Smethwick but that does not qualify him as a Smethwickian who served in the Anglo-Boer War although he might have found employment in the Borough.

The FMP summary record gives his year of birth as 1872 despite his age being given as 19 years 11 months when he attested on 12th August 1891 and his birth being registered in the last quarter of 1871. The 1939 Register gives the accurate and ultimate answer – 2nd September 1871, showing his parents were a bit slow (but still on the right side of the law) in registering his birth.

The start of the Anglo-Boer War found Thomas in the Army Reserve following his seven and a half years of active service of which six were spent in India. He was recalled to the colours on 9th October 1899, embarked for South Africa on 2nd November 1899 and returned to Blighty on 4th December 1901. On 20th March 1902 he was demobilised to the Army Reserve and on 31st July 1902 acknowledged payment of a £5 South African War Service Gratuity. He was discharged from the Army Reserve on 7th August 1903 but eleven days later re-attested and signed up for a further 4 years in Section D of the 1st Class Army Reserve. Finally, on 17th August 1907 he was discharged from any obligation to the Army.

His full name was Thomas Josiah Boraston and in 1905 he married Smethwick born Lucy Jane Castle. They set up home, immediately over the border from Smethwick, in Eva Road, Winson Green and there they remained until at least the start of the Second World War. The 1911 Census and 1939 Register gave his occupation as “Plate Metal Shearer”. They both passed way in Birmingham, Thomas in the first quarter of 1959 and Lucy in the last quarter of the same year. Thomas was 87 years old when he died – not a bad age for somebody born in 1871 and considering the eight years of hardship and deprivation he would have encountered during his overseas Army service.

Public family trees on Ancestry & Electoral Roll records indicate Thomas & Lucy had two daughters, so rather sad to see his medals for sale.

Interesting address for his Father ...Also called Thomas.