Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: James Francis Thomas
Ancestor's date of birth: 25/07/1861 at St Marys NSW
Ancestor's date of death: 11/11/1946
Cause of Death: Nephritis and Malnutrition
Service Number: Officer - no number.
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Tenterfield
Unit: New South Wales Citizen's Bushmen
Rank attained in Boer War: MAJ, Date Effective: 1900
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Was not promoted beyond major.
Murray Page: 75
Contingent: Third New South Wales
Ship: Atlantian, Date of Sailing: 28/02/1900
Memorial details: Tenterfield Riflemen's Memorial, Tenterfield NSW
Awards/Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Rhodesia and Transvaal clasps, King's South Africa Medal with SA 1901 and SA 1902 clasps.
Personal Characteristics: A quiet man of deep and sincere convictions. Major Thomas' unobtrusive actions of kindness were legion and it was said that he would give his last shilling to a needy person. Most likely he did...
Reasons to go and fight: A serving officer with the NSWMR.
Details of service in war: April 1900 - April 1901 with the NSWIB where he initially served as a captain, then promoted to major, and command, in Rhodesia, west Transvaal including defence of Elands River Post (4-16 August 1900), and under Plumer in northern Transvaal, great De Wet hunt (February - March 1901) and advance on Petersburg. Repesented Lieutentant Harry Harbord Morant (Breaker Morant), Lieutentant Peter Joseph Handcock, Lieutenant George Ramsdale Witton and Major Lenehan at their Courts Martial.
Service and life after the Boer War: Solicitor and owner of the Tenterfield Star (newspaper). CLICK HERE for a detailed biography.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Diane M Deveril, ELANORA QLD
Relationship to Ancestor: First cousin - four times removed
