Born at Drunasklore, Co. Leith.
Enlisted at Longford on the 15th of January 1831.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Labourer.
Fair complexion. Blue eyes. Sandy hair.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Wilson Kennedy" on the 2nd of May 1855.
In Scutari General Hospital from the 1st of July 1854 and sent to Varna on the 29th of July.
Sent to Scutari again on the 9th of December 1854 and invalided to England aboard the H.T. "Echunga" on the 11th of January 1855, as:
"Unfit for further service from chronic rheumatism and scurvy — aggravated by service in the Crimea.
An old soldier of nearly 25 years' service. Labours under rheumatic pains of the lower extremities and a tendency towards scurvy — consequent upon the poor living he had to undergo in the Crimea.
Pain started about two years ago and can be attributed to long and arduous service. Not aggravated by vice or mis-conduct."
Served 24 years 7 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 329 days.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Three times tried by Regimental Court-martial. Once by Garrison Court-martial.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial and imprisoned from the 26th of November — 9th of December 1840.
"Absent", 7 p.m. 20th July — 3 p.m. 22nd of July 1841. Imprisoned by a Regimental Court-martial: 23rd of July — 11th of August 1841.
Imprisoned by a Garrison Court-martial: 11th-17th of August 1846.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial on the 23rd of October 1847 and sentenced to 42 days' imprisonment, but this sentence was remitted by the Commanding Officer.
Aged 42 years on discharge.
He was awarded a pension of 1/- per day.
Living in Longford after discharge, but in Dublin in 1863.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma and Sebastopol.
He was presented with his Crimean medal by Queen Victoria at a ceremony on Horse Guards Parade on the 18th of May 1855. His name appears on the Nominal Return of those present now in the PRO, also on a similar roll which appeared in the United Services Magazine for June of 1855 and on that which appeared in the "Illustrated London News" of the 26th of May 1855.
(See record of John Thomas Brudenell (the Earl of Cardigan) for antecedents of the artist who painted a picture of the scene and details regarding the picture itself.)
Died in Dublin on the 15th of October 1871.
A letter with his documents from the War Office, and dated the 26th of November 1863, stated that his name should be Thomas Sadler.
The Annual Report (1868) of the Army and Navy Pensioner's Employment Society states that a position of a Night Watchman was obtained for him in Dublin at a wage of 14/- per week, during the month of February of that same year.