Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, c.1826.
Enlisted at Dublin on the 13th of April 1846.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Shopman.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 22nd of July 1854 for" being drunk on Guard Duty. " Awarded 25 lashes, but this sentence was revised to 50 lashes.
At Scutari General Depot from the 14th of September and sent to rejoin the regiment in the Crimea on the 23rd of November 1854.
Confined, 3rd of January 1855, tried by a District Court-martial on the 7th, and sentenced to 50 lashes with loss of 1d. per day for 2 years.
Letter relating to him, and another man from the regiment sent to the Military College, Sandhurst:
"Horse Guards,
9th January 1857.
Sir, — By the desire of the General Commanding-in-Chief I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 26th ultimo and to acquaint you that His Royal Highness has been pleased to select the men named in the margin for the Riding Troop about to be formed at the Military College, at Sandhurst and to request you that you will hold them in readiness to proceed to Sandhurst early in the ensuing weeks according to the route which you will receive from the QuarterMasters Department.
I am, etc,. etc.
G. . A. Weatherall,
DAG."
Similar letters were sent to the Officers Commanding the 4th Light Dragoons, 11th Hussars, the 13th Light Dragoons and the 17th Lancers, listing the names of the men selected.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S. S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
From Private to Corporal: 23rd of June 1859.
Corporal to Sergeant: 22nd of April 1861.
Died at Meerut, India, on the 16th of July 1861.
Next of kin, Cousin, John Birkely, living No. 7 Abbey Street, Dublin.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah and Gwalior.
The Returned Medal book states: "Crimean, Mutiny and Turkish medals returned to the Mint. No trace of issue."
Died of Cholera at Meerut on the 16th of July 1861.
The India Office records show him as having died of "Cholera" at Meerut on the 16th of July 1861, aged 35 years. He was buried on the same day in the Cantonment Cemetery by the Revd, W. Rotten, Chaplain.
His name is recorded on a memorial in St. John's Garrison Church at Meerut. See also the record of 979 Thomas Harrison — 8th Hussars.