Inspector Thomas William Thrale

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 3 Apr 1881, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; With grandparents Thomas and Elizabeth Thrale on night of census. Rel: G Son Occ: Scholar; : 6 years; Address:
  High Street
• Military Award: 1900; China War Medal
• Occupation: 30 Jun 1914, Singapore; Straits Settlements
• Residence: 30 Jun 1914, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England; Address:
  17 Ramsbury Road
• Occupation: 1928; Inspector of Police

Notes:

Military Award:
The China War of 1900-01 is more commonly referred to as the Boxer Rebellion. The Boxers formed a Chinese secret society known as the _I-ho-ch'uan_ - the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (hence 'Boxers'). The Boxers and other similar societies aimed to eradicate all foreigners and Christians from China; the government under Dowager Empress Tzu His secretly supported these fanatical organisations.

At the end of the 19th century the Royal Garrison Artillery, which was part of the Royal Artillery, was divided into 3 Divisions:

1. The Eastern Division, HQ at Dover. Depot companies at Dover and Great Yarmouth.


2. The Southern Division, HQ at Portsmouth. Depot companies at Gosport and Seaforth (near Liverpool).


3. The Western Division, HQ at Devonport. Depot companies at Plymouth and Scarborough.

The Garrison Artillery was composed of 104 service companies in 1900, 40 of them in the UK, 37 in various colonies of the Empire and 27 in India. A company was commanded by a major with 6 or so officers, around 10 NCOs and 100 to 200 men.

The uniform of Garrison Artillery was the same as Field Artillery except that they were more likely to wear trousers instead of boots and breeches. On their shoulder straps were the initials of the name of their Division and the number of their company.

On 1 January 1902, the Divisional system was abolished and all companies RGA were re-numbered sequentially from 1 to 105. 2nd Company Southern Division became the 62nd Company RGA and the 15th Company Southern Division became the 91st Company RGA. The China 1900 Medal is normally named to one of these two companies.

The combination of QSA and China was awarded to nearly 500 soldiers of the Royal Garrison Artillery. Two companies were formed in South Africa for service in China. The Gunners came from 15 Company Western Division RGA, 15 Company Southern Division RGA and 2 Company Southern Division RGA. The men all earned the QSA, with up to four clasps, and the China medal, without clasp. The combination is certainly unusual, but it was 43 RGA reservists who earned themselves a rare combination - QSA, China and KSA, having been sent back to South Africa following service in China.

Much more can be learnt from the article written by Lt. Col. McaFarlane in the OMRS Journal Autumn 1993 - _'A slow boat to China - and back again'_ (Lt.Col.(Retd) A.M.Macfarlane), OMRS Journal, Autumn 1993, Volume 32, Number 3, pages 198-200:

In May 1900, 15 W.D. received four 9.45in. B.L. Howitzers, manufactured at the Skoda Works in Austria. Although the last word in heavy artillery, they were never actually fired in anger in South Africa. However, early in July 1900, it was decided to send a siege train armed with these howitzers, under the command of Colonel T. Perrott, from South Africa to join the China Expeditionary Force in the defeat of the Boxer Rebellion. The siege train was to consist of:

• Right Half 15 Company Southern Division RGA - two 9.45in B.L. howitzers


• Right Half 15 Company Western Division RGA - two 9.45in B.L. howitzers


• 2 Company Southern Division RGA - four 4.7in Q.F. guns

2 SD had eight officers and 184 men. The siege train assembled at Cape Town where it embarked in S.S. Antillian on 18th July 1900 and sailed on 23 July. The ship arrived at Singapore on 13 August, left there on 15 August, docked at Hong Kong on 22 August and eventually reached Wei-hai-wei, the base for the Expeditionary Force, on 30 August.

Of course, by that time, Pekin had been relieved and, apart from the odd raid, the Boxer Rebellion was as good as over. After two weeks spent on board ship, the siege train disembarked at Wei-hai-wei but, on 26 October, the two half companies [of the 15 SD and 15 WD] re-embarked on the S.S. Antillian and returned to Hong Kong for the winter, whilst 2 SD remained in garrison at Wei-hai-wei. None of the siege guns fired in anger in China.

Thomas married Hannah Maria Green on 30 Jun 1914 in Saint Peters, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. Hannah (daughter of George Alfred Green and Lucy Mason) was born about 1867 in Peckham, Surrey, England; died on 8 Nov 1920. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Marriage witnessed by Alfred george Green (bride's brother), William F Green & Harriet F Green

Other Events and Attributes:

• Physical Description: William and his family were renowned for their sporting feats at all local contests.
• Residence: 21 Jun 1874, Bermondsey, Surrey, England
• Occupation: Between 17 Oct 1874 and 6 Jun 1888; Journeyman baker
• Census: 3 Apr 1881, Sandridge, Hertfordshire, England; Rel: Head Occ: Journeyman Baker; : 27 years; Address:
  Cottage
• Occupation: Between 25 Jul 1881 and 20 Dec 1883; Watercress grower
• Census: 1891; : 36 years
• Occupation: 1891; General labourer
• Residence: 1891-18 Jan 1892, New Marford, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England
• Occupation: Between 20 May 1893 and 20 Jul 1896; Painter & Journeyman
• Residence: 20 May 1893, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; Address:
  Church Street
• Occupation: 20 Feb 1899; Brewers labourer
• Census: 1901; Brewery labourer; : 48 years
• Census: 2 Apr 1911, 12 High Street, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; : 57
• Occupation: 1911 - 28 Sept 1920; House painter and decorator
• Residence: 1918 - 9 Jun 1931, 1a Butlin Road, Luton, Bedfordshire, England

Notes:

Said to have been married three times and had 21 children and that Brian's father (Herbert Donald Thrale) was the youngest of 21, and that the third wife was Scottish. The records identified to date, do not confirm this.

William and his family were renowned for their sporting feats at all local contests

William married Sophia Jane McCulloch on 21 Jun 1874 in Saint Mary Magdelen, Bermondsey, Surrey, England. Sophia (daughter of John McCulloch and Mary Ann Lines) was born on 27 Aug 1853 in The Village, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; was christened on 2 Jan 1854 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; died on 6 Mar 1915 in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 3 Apr 1881, Sandridge, Hertfordshire, England; Wife; : 27; Address:
  Cottage
• Census: 1891; : 36
• Residence: 1891, 36 Hatfield Road, New Marford, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England
• Residence: 20 May 1893, Church Street, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England
• Census: 1901, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; : 48
• Census: 2 Apr 1911, 12 High Street, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; Married 38 years. 16 children. 13 living and 3 dead.; : 57

Notes:

Married:
CISSIE THRALE: From somewhere - I don't know the source - I had a Cissie Thrale (presumably diminutive for Cecilia) as a daughter of William Thrale and Sophia McCulloch, and that Cissie married G Squire and had 4 kids. Today I discovered reliable documentary evidence that Harriet Kate Sophia Thrale married George Squires. I have therefore transferred George and his kids to Harriet Kate Sophia. Clearly Cissie is not a diminutive of Harriet, Kate or Sophia. The question is whether Cissie exists. have found no record of her anywhere else. therefore I have deleted her. However I will leave a note here, just in case.

JACK THRALE: From somewhere - I don't know the source - I also had a Jack Thrale as a son of William Thrale and Sophia McCulloch, and that Jack married married Rose White. Jack is a diminutive for John. I already have a John Thrale and I have documentary proof of his existence. John Thrale married Rosetta Wright, incredibly similar to Rose White. Therefore I have concluded that infact the untraceable Jack Thrale and Rose White are infact John Thrale and Rosetta Wright. However, just in case I am wrong, I have left this note here.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; Baker & beer seller; Address:
  The Boot
  High Street
• Residence: Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England
• Alt. Birth: 1826, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; Saint Mary
• Census: 30 Mar 1851, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; Thomas Thrale, Married, 25, Baker & Beer Seller b Luton, Beds Eliza Thrale, wife, 24 born Wheathampstead Sarah Thrale dau, 2 born Wheathampstead Thomas R. Thrale, son 1m born Wheathampstead James Peacock, relative, unmarried 26 Ag Lab born Wheathampstead Henry O'Dell, lodger unmarried 22, Fishmonger, born Wheathampstead; Address:
  The Boot, High Street
• Occupation: 29 Mar 1857; Baker (Journeyman)
• Census: 3 Apr 1881, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; Marr Age Sex Birthplace Thomas THRALE Rel: Head Occ: Master Baker M 55 M Wheathampstead Eliza THRALE Rel: Wife M 53 F Wheathampstead Harriett THRALE Rel: Daur U 21 F Wheathampstead Thomas THRALE Rel: G Son Occ: Scholar 6 M Wheathampstead Amelia OCKMORE Rel: Visitor 26 F London, London, Middlesex, England Daniel WELSH Rel: Boarder Occ: Journeyman Baker 29 M Kimpton Wm. PINDER Rel: Boarder Occ: Journeyman Baker 16 M Wheathampstead; : 55 yrs; Address:
  High Street
• Occupation: 28 Apr 1848-14 Nov 1881; Baker

Thomas married Elizabeth Peacock on 28 Apr 1848 in Saint Luke, Middlesex, England. Elizabeth (daughter of William Peacock) was born on 14 Jun 1827 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; died on 3 Jul 1899 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England; was buried in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Eliza Peacock
• Residence: 28 Apr 1848, Holborn, Middlesex, England; Bath Street
• Census: 3 Apr 1881, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; : 53; Address:
  High Street
• Occupation: 5 Apr 1891; Baker - employer
• Residence: 5 Apr 1891, 79 High Street, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England

Notes:

Possibly illiterate, as son William's birth certificate signed with an "X"

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 6 Oct 1843, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England; Draper
• Occupation: Between 17 Aug 1853 and 1881; Baker
• Residence: 19 Sep 1853, The Village, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England

Notes:

Occupation:
First date is occupation taken from birth certificate of Sophia Jane McCulloch and was mentioned on John McCulloch's 1899 death certificate

Died:
"Agnes Keturah Brown daughter present at the death" is named as the informant on his death certificate, which was registered on 17 August 1899. Her address is given as The Swan, Wheathampstead.

John married Mary Ann Lines on 6 Oct 1843 in Saint Peters, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. Mary (daughter of John Lines and Keturah Allen) was born on 7 Aug 1820 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; was christened on 8 Oct 1820 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; died in 1 Oct 1892-31 Dec 1892 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Anne Lines

Notes:

Married:
Marriage witnessed by William Mowley and Sarah Lambert

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Miller

Thomas married Sarah Thorpe in 1823 in Saint Marylebone, Middlesex, England. Sarah was born in 1804; died in 1869. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Bef 6 Oct 1843; Farmer

James married Helen McTaggart on 22 Apr 1809 in Kirkinner, Wigtownshire, Scotland. Helen (daughter of John McTaggart and Janet Mckeand) was born in 1785 in Scotland; was christened on 25 Nov 1786 in Penninghame, Wigtownshire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Keturah Allen about 1821. Keturah (daughter of John Allen and Ann Currall) was born on 3 Feb 1787 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; was christened on 25 Mar 1787 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England; died in Apr 1877 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]