Born in the parish of Coolmara, Hacketstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland.
Enlisted at Newbridge on the 4th of January 1849.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Labourer.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Brown eyes. Dk. brown hair.
Embarked for the Crimea aboard the H.T. "Wilson Kennedy" on the 2nd of May 1854.
"Severely wounded in the Charge at Balaclava in seven places - four lance wounds in the left side and three in the left arm."
Sent to Scutari on the 26th of October 1854 and rejoined the regiment on the 25th of February 1855.
From Private to Corporal: 25th of June 1855.
Reduced to Private by a Regimental Court-martial on the 20th of April 1856.
Embarked for India from Cork aboard the S.S. "Great Britain" on the 8th of October 1857.
From Private to Corporal: 25th of June 1859.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial, reduced to Private and imprisoned from the 24-26 of April 1860.
Embarked from India on the 26th of March 1861 and shown at the Canterbury Depot (from Chatham) on the 30th of July 1861.
Discharged from Canterbury on the 12th of August 1861.
"Claimed after termination of first period of limited engagement."
Served 12 years 221 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months
In India: 3 years 5 months.
Aged 30 years 2 months on discharge.
Conduct: "very good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Twice tried by Court-martial.
Documents state that he is in possession of the medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field, the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaklava and Sebastopol, the Turkish Medal and is also entitled to, but has not yet received, the Indian Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
To live, c/o., "The Post Office", Carlow.
He re-engaged into the 15th Hussars at Dublin on the 25th of May 1862, with the Regimental No. of 652.
His age was given as 30 years 4 months and his trade that of a servant. Previous service in the 8th Hussars allowed to reckon towards pension by War Office Authority, dated the 28th of May 1862.
"In confinement": 6th-12th of August 1867.
Discharged from Canterbury on the 16th of September 1873.
"Debility - Result of age and neither incurred nor aggravated by his military service. Is at present in good health, but at 41 years of age he is no longer capable of performing his military duties.
His discharge will not affect his ability to contribute towards his own livelihood."
Served 22 years 349 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year 10 months
In India: a total of 4 years 5 months.
Conduct: "very good".
In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
Once entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Never tried by Court-martial in this regiment.
After discharge he was expecting to reside in Manchester, and could be contacted c/o "The Post Office", Manchester.
Aged 42 years on discharge.
He was awarded a pension of 13d. per day on discharge, but this increased to 19d. per day from the 11th of January 1887, being the Royal Bounty for his "gallant conduct".
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava and Sebastopol.
Mutiny medal with clasp for Central India.
Served at Kotah and Gwalior.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal, with a gratuity of £5.
He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, also with a gratuity of £5. He was recommended for this on the 12th of January 1855, but it is not known for what particular action this was awarded.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1877 and 1879.
Extract from the Army and Navy Gazette, 2nd of November 1873:
"8th Hussars
One of the last survivors of the charge of the Light Brigade has just been discharged from the regiment; Private T. Twamley, who bears on his chest a medal for distinguished conduct in the charge in which he was wounded in seven places on the left side, and when surrounded by some Cossacks was known to have killed four with his sword."
Additional information about membership of the Balaclava Commemoration Society kindly provided by Chris Poole.