Birth & early life
"Private Thomas Toulson, was the son of Joseph Toulson, a framework knitter and Elizabeth (née Clifford), his wife of Nether Street, Beeston. He was born about 1822 and enlisted on April 26 1846.
Note: Joseph & Elizabeth are to be found in the census of June 1841, living there with their three then-surviving children (Piece 856 Folio 15-09); this included the 17-year-old Thomas who, like both his parents and both his siblings, was then working as a framework knitter. Thomas was baptised at Beeston Parish Church on 16th May 1824."
Also check as a possible relation, 1716 Josiah Toulson, 8th Hussars, also born Nottingham and also, according to his enlistment details, a frameworker.
Enlistment
Enlisted at Nottingham on the 20th of April 1846.
Age: 22.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: None shown.
[PB, March 2014: The Beeston Memorial (see below) records his enlistment date as the 26th April, the same as that of his fellow-villager 841 John Lees, who also died in the Crimea. It is possible they did enlist together [Check dates], but their dates may have been synchronised to enhance the pathos.]
Medals & commemorations
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol.
Further detailed medal information archived.
Memorials
John Lees and Thomas Toulson/Towson, both 17th Lancers. Crimea memorial, St John the Baptist Church, Church St, Beeston.
(Click on image to enlarge)
A "Thomas Toulson" appears among the four names (another is 841 John Lees, 17th Lancers) on a fine Crimean War memorial at Beeston in Nottinghamshire. This is obviously Towson. The inscription to him on a tablet reads:
"Private Thomas Toulson. 17th Lancers. Enlisted April 20th 1846. Was in the Charge at Balaclava and died of diarrhoea at Scutari Hospital, December 15th 1854. Aged 32 years."
There is a copy of a photograph of this stone in the 17th Lancer file.
[PB: Notice the erroneous date given for the Charge - 23rd October, not 25th October. There is more information about the memorial in John Lees's entry.]
