Born at Chattisham, near Hadley, Suffolk.
1841 Census
Boxford Road, Polstead, Suffolk.
Thomas Poorly, 20, Agricultural Labourer, and Mary Poorly [sic], 15.
Enlisted at Ipswich on the 27th of October 1842.
Age: 18.
Height: 5" 6".
Trade: Servant.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Lt. brown hair.
Sent to Scutari on the 9th of November 1854 and to rejoin the regiment on the 14th of December 1854.
Transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Military Train at Cahir on the 31st of October 1856. Regimental No. 747.
From Private to Corporal 1st of January 1858.
"Died at Sea" from cholera when aboard the ship "Pomnia" on the 29th of April 1859.
Next-of-kin: Father, John Porley. Living in Chattisham, Suffolk. (The musters however show him as sending the sum of £2. from India to his wife, Sophia Porley.)
He left no will, and had the sum of £16/15/6d. in his "credits".
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Mutiny medal with clasps for Lucknow and the Relief of Lucknow.
The Returned medal book states that his Mutiny medal was returned to the Mint. There is no trace of issue.
Served with the force under the command of H.E. the Commander-in-Chief at Lucknow and with that under Sir James Outram at Alum Bagh.
See record of 1754 James Gobby with reference to the services of the 2nd Battalion of the Military Train during the Mutiny and commemoration of his (Porley's) name on the memorial in Bristol Cathedral.
Census information for 1841 kindly provided by Chris Poole.