THOMAS DELL

Thomas was born in 1858 (Q3 Newbury 2c 203) to Thomas (Ref: 10314) & Mary Dell. He was baptised at St Nicholas’, Newbury on 21 October 1859.

In 1861 Thomas was 2 years & living with his parents & two sisters in Bridge Yard, Greenham. (See Ref: 10314).

In 1871 the family were in Back Lane, Newbury. Thomas was 12 & now had two more sisters. (See Ref: 10314).

In 1876, aged 18, Thomas enlisted at Reading into The Royal Berks Militia having had a notice to do so. He was then immediately sent to Horfield, Bristol to join the 37^th Infantry Brigade. He had been a Fellmonger’s labourer dealing in in hides & skins prior to his enlistment. His military career was not illustrious. He was imprisoned twice in 1877 for breaking out of camp & four more times in 1882 for various misdemeanours. He did serve abroad in Malta, the East Indies & Afghanistan. At some point he was transferred to the Reserves. Prior to this his character was described as “Very Bad’ & ‘Intemperate’. He was discharged on 21 November 1888 with his character now being described as ‘Good’ & his engagement was ‘terminated at the end of his first period of service’.

He returned to Newbury & became a Painter but was in the Union Workhouse in 1891 aged 32.

He died on 8 July 1897 (Q3 Newbury 2c 153), aged 40 & was buried at NRC on 12 July 1897. Cause of death was a build-up of fluid (Anasarea & Ascites) & Jaundice.

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