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.