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Lt J Thomson, St Giles, Edinburgh

 
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:36 pm    Post subject: Lt J Thomson, St Giles, Edinburgh Reply with quote

Located in St Giles Cathedral Edinburgh at OS Map Ref NT 259 735

Not listed on UKNIWM

This is one of 5 memorials to individuals sited in the old organ loft which is not accessible to the public. My thanks to the museum staff for allowing me exceptional access to take the photos. I am guessing that these memorials may not have been read (or cleaned) for perhaps 100 years!

Sacred to the memory of
Lieut and Adjt J Thomson
72nd Duke of Albany’s Own Highlanders
who was killed at Umballah, India,
by a fall from his horse when on parade
on the 3rd May 1871
This tablet is erected by the non commissioned officers and privates,
of the regiment in which he had served for 30 years,
from private to the rank which he held when killed,
in testimony of his unequalled qualities, and kindness,
both as a man and a soldier

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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

These St Giles plaques are very interesting Paul. many thanks for taking the time to find and photograph them.

It is quite common to see Officers of Highland Regiments having their swords carved on the memorial, as here, but sometimes it also shows their headgear (a classical touch I take it) in which case it usually shows a feather bonnet. Here it shows the foreign service helmet used in India at that time with the Regiment's crown and star badge on the front.

Adam
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
Posts: 4991
Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Adam - there's you looking at the helmet and sword and the symbolism and me just looking at decades of dirt. Thanks for enlightening me. Let's hope that one day these get cleaned up a bit and maybe even put on public display - although I doubt it because the steps up are decidedly 'iffy'.

\Paul
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dhubthaigh
Our first ever 1000-poster


Joined: 19 Dec 2006
Posts: 5071
Location: Blairgowrie, Perthshire

PostPosted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Adam Brown wrote:
It is quite common to see Officers of Highland Regiments having their swords carved on the memorial, as here, but sometimes it also shows their headgear (a classical touch I take it) in which case it usually shows a feather bonnet. Here it shows the foreign service helmet used in India at that time with the Regiment's crown and star badge on the front. Adam


An education, appreciated
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Adam Brown
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Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

spoons wrote:
there's you looking at the helmet and sword and the symbolism and me just looking at decades of dirt


That's the beauty of the forum format. Everyone can add a little snipet of information. You have seen them up close and can see what state they are in, and I can finally get to use my limited knowledge of Victorian military uniforms!

Cheers

Adam
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Adam Brown
Curator


Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 7312
Location: Edinburgh (From Sutherland)

PostPosted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 2:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It mentions this man had thirty years service with the 72nd Highlanders so here is where they were over that period.

The following information has been taken from Queen's Own Highlanders by Lt.Col. A Fairrie and Seaforth Highlanders by Col. J Sym.

The regiment had not long arrived in Ambala (Umballah) when Lt & Adj. Thomson died. If he had stayed with the regiment for the whole period mentioned then he had been on garrison duty in Ireland, Gibraltar, West Indies, Canada, Malta, Channel Islands and India and had seen active service in the Crimea and Indian Mutiny.

It doesn't mention his connection to the city but his regiment was in Edinburgh in 1866.

1838 Cape Town
1840 To Portsmouth
1841 Royal duties in Windsor
1842 Riot duty in Manchester, Preston, Blackburn and Bolton
Aug. 1842 Five cotton workers killed by 72nd in Preston during protests at wage cuts
1843 To Ireland. Stationed in Dublin, Templemore and Fermoy
1844 To Gibraltar Garrison
1848 To West Indies. Stationed in Barbados, Trinidad, St. Lucia, Demerara, Grenada and Tobago.
1851 To Halifax, Nova Scotia
1854 To Limerick
1855 To Malta
1855 Crimea, Battle Honour: SEVASTOPOL
1856 To Aldershot then the Channel Islands
1857 To India via Shorncliffe, Kent.
1858 Arrive Bombay. Serve in Indian Mutiny, Battle Honour: CENTRAL INDIA
1859 To Mhow
1865 To Poona
1866 To Edinburgh
1867 To England
1868 To Ireland. Stationed in Dublin, Limerick, Buttevant, Cork
1871 To India, Stationed in Umballa

Adam
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stuartn



Joined: 13 Dec 2016
Posts: 2551

PostPosted: Wed Apr 01, 2020 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

WMR 88693
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