Thomas Rawding was born in Hough in 1874, the son of William Rawding (born Rose Cottage, Brandon 1846) and Mary (born in Skillington). By 1881 the family had left the parish and were living in Crescent Place, Newark where William was a maltster. In 1891 his parents were in Sherburn, near Scarborough where William was still working as a maltster. Thomas was living a few miles away at ‘Saxton’ (Staxton) and was recorded as Thomas Rawling, aged 17, born ‘How in the Hell’!
Thomas was working as a labourer when (age 20 yr 11 months) he signed up for 7 years service with the Royal Artillery on 30 July 1895. He was described as 5′ 5 3/4”, 130lb, 35-38” chest, with blue eyes, flaxen hair, fresh complexion and good physical development. His religion was Wesleyan. His next of kin was his mother in Sherburn.
He joined U Battery, Royal Horse Artillery (regimental number 10674) as a (horse) driver, transferring to G Battery RHA in Oct 1895, then J Battery in Dec 1896. His service record is mostly medical:
- 6 Aug 1895 Arrived at Woolwich barracks
- 13 Feb 1896 Hospital for 10 days with a slight contusion, having been kicked by a horse
- Jun 1896 Saw the doctor at Oakhampton
- 14 Jul 1896 Arrived back at Woolwich
- 4 Aug 1896 Hospital at Woolwich for 25 days with contusion in the right leg, due to an off duty accident
- Sep 1896 Saw the doctor at St Johns Wood
- Oct 1896 Saw the doctor at Woolwich?
- 7 Dec 1896 Sailed for India, arriving 30 Dec
- 6 Jan 1897 Arrived in Mhow (Madhya Pradesh ), saw the doctor
- 15 Feb 1899 Arrived Umballa (Ambala) in Punjab
- 9 Dec 1901 Hospital rest for 33 days with contusion after a bench fell on his foot whilst off duty
- 14 Jan 1902 Recurrence of the foot sprain.
- 22 Sep 1902 Hospital for 9 days with Ague (fever) (climatic)
- 15 Oct 1902 Hospital for 8 days Ague (climatic)
- 28 Oct 1902 Hospital for 8 days Ague
- 1902 To Deolali transit camp
- 11 Mar 1903 Arrived back from India
- 13 Mar 1903 Transferred to Army reserve
- 29 Jul 1907 Discharged
- 11 Jan 1908 Re-engaged as RHA driver at Woolwich, home service
- 5 Aug 1914 Mobilised at Woolwich, posted Aug 1914 RHA No1 RA Cadet School
- 2 Oct 1914 Posted K Battery, RHA at Ludgershall, Wilts
- 6 Oct 1914 To France
- 27 Nov 1914 Admitted to field hospital with herpes, discharged on 30 Nov
- 2 Dec 1915 Admitted to field hospital with herpes, discharged on 8 Dec
- 14-19 Feb Granted leave
- 28 Jun 1916 Admitted to field hospital with trivial wound to 4th finger on right hand.
- 29 Jun 1916 Moved to No 12 General Hospital, Rouen. CO’s certificate states that he was packing away his section’s ration of preserved meat on 24th Jun when a tin slipped and fell on his finger, cutting it. He dressed it himself then reported sick.
- 1 Jul 1916 Sailed to England for home service on the ‘Western Australia’, thus missing the opening day of the 1st Battle of the Somme. Remained in home service.
- 24 Jan 1917 Discharged as having reached the age limit
Thomas Rawding died in Scarborough in 1943.