Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Cape Colony" & "Paardeberg".
King's South Africa Medal with clasps "South Africa 1901" & "South Africa 1902".
1816 Pte. T. Slatter, Lincolnshire Regiment.
Thomas Slatter appears on the 1881 Census as a 15 year old packer in a mustard mill, the son of Isaac Slatter, a leather embosser, and his wife Charlotte of 3 King Edward Street, Bridewell, London. Thomas had an older sister but was the oldest of the family's three sons. On 1st March 1887, he joined the Lincolnshire Regiment, enlisting for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. Already serving in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers Volunteers, Thomas must have decided that the army life was for him. His Attestation Papers give his occupation as a groom and describe him as being just over 5' 4" in height, weighing 119lbs and having blueish-grey eyes, dark brown hair and a medium complexion. He also had scars on the back of his head, right hip and right shin.
Thomas joined the 1st Battalion of the Regiment at Lincoln on 4th March 1887 but his army career doesn't seem to have got off to a very auspicious start; he went absent and, once apprehended, was in confinement and then imprisoned by the Commanding Officer for some weeks. Once released, Thomas went absent again and suffered a subsequent 17 days imprisonment. A month after his release, he was sent overseas to join the 2nd Battalion, serving over four years in the East Indies and a further two years in the Straits Settlements (Singapore). Foreign service seems to have suited Thomas better and he was awarded his first Good Conduct Pay on 18th February 1890, his second Good Conduct Pay following three years later. Returning to England in 1895, Thomas was transferred to the Army Reserve, his seven years of service having been completed.
On the outbreak of war with the Boers, Thomas Slatter was recalled to the Colours and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, which sailed for South Africa on the "Goorkha" on 4th January 1900. Arriving at the Cape about the 25th, the Battalion joined the 14th Brigade and later, on 18th February, took part in the Battle of Paardeberg. Thomas served with the 2nd Lincolns in South Africa till August 1902, thus earning entitlement not just to the Queen's but also to the King's South Africa Medal. Following his return to England, he was discharged from the army on 28th February 1903.
Thomas joined the 1st Battalion of the Regiment at Lincoln on 4th March 1887 but his army career doesn't seem to have got off to a very auspicious start; he went absent and, once apprehended, was in confinement and then imprisoned by the Commanding Officer for some weeks. Once released, Thomas went absent again and suffered a subsequent 17 days imprisonment. A month after his release, he was sent overseas to join the 2nd Battalion, serving over four years in the East Indies and a further two years in the Straits Settlements (Singapore). Foreign service seems to have suited Thomas better and he was awarded his first Good Conduct Pay on 18th February 1890, his second Good Conduct Pay following three years later. Returning to England in 1895, Thomas was transferred to the Army Reserve, his seven years of service having been completed.
On the outbreak of war with the Boers, Thomas Slatter was recalled to the Colours and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment, which sailed for South Africa on the "Goorkha" on 4th January 1900. Arriving at the Cape about the 25th, the Battalion joined the 14th Brigade and later, on 18th February, took part in the Battle of Paardeberg. Thomas served with the 2nd Lincolns in South Africa till August 1902, thus earning entitlement not just to the Queen's but also to the King's South Africa Medal. Following his return to England, he was discharged from the army on 28th February 1903.
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