Born at Glanmire, Co. Cork.
Enlisted at Cahir on the 4th of September 1847.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Farrier.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Brown hair.
1851 Census
Preston Cavalry Barracks, Sussex.
Thomas Curteine, Private, unmarried, 24, Private, Farrier & Smith, born Cork.
He was a Farrier in the Regiment in 1853.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Mary Anne" on the 19th of April 1854.
Served with Lord Raglan's Escort Troop in 1855.
Sent to the Depot at Canterbury when the regiment went to India, 1st of October 1857.
Transferred to the 18th Hussars at Canterbury on the 1st of May 1858, Regimental No. 655.
Discharged, "time expired", from Canterbury on the 22nd of December 1859.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge. Once tried by Court-martial.
Tried by a District Court-Martial on the 25th of June 1855 for "being drunk on duty under arms." Was awarded, and given, 50 lashes.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.
Re-enlisted into the 4th Dragoon Guards at Westminster on the 28th of December 1859. Regimental No. 460.
Promoted to Farrier, (as Sergeant) on the 23rd of June 1860.
Former service in the 8th and 18th Hussars allowed to reckon towards pension, per War Office Authority, dated the 2nd of March 1861.
Discharged from Shorncliffe on the 16th of January 1869:
"He being unfit for further military service. Suffers from chronic rheumatism. States that he had first felt the rheumatic pains on the night after the battle of the Alma.
He at present suffers from constant rheumatic pains in the shoulder and back of the neck.
Advanced age will interfere with his doing much towards earning his livelihood."
Served 22 years 106 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of four Good Conduct badges.
Eight times entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Once tried by Court-martial.
To live in Cork after discharge.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean medal with four clasps and the Turkish Medal.
Pension increased to 1/6d. per day from the 27th of April 1869.
Told he was in receipt of the maximum pension, 16th of March 1878.
Census information for 1851 kindly provided by Chris Poole.