Pte. Thomas Haynes, 2nd Dragoons.

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps "Relief of Kimberley", "Paardeberg", "Driefontein", "Johannesburg", "Diamond Hill" & "Belfast". 3859 Pte. J. Haynes, 2nd Dragoons. 

Thomas William Haynes was born in Bermondsey around the year 1873. He attested for the army at Aldershot on 19th September 1893, expressing a desire to serve with the dragoons and agreeing to serve for seven years with the Colours and five years in the Reserve. His Attestation Papers describe him as over 5' 11" tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, and a scar on his chin. He was 20 years and 5 months old and he was working as a clerk. He had some military experience as he was serving as a volunteer in the Medical Staff Corps Militia. Given the service number 3859, Thomas spent the first years of his army service in the UK in the ranks of the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) and appears to have got on well. He was awarded his first Good Conduct Pay in September 1895, appointed Lance Corporal in 1897 and received a second Good Conduct Pay in September 1899. In the following month, he reverted to Private and in November, following the outbreak of the war with the Boers, sailed for South Africa with the Regiment. Thomas would serve for almost three years here, earning entitlement to the Queen's South Africa Medal with six clasps and a King's South Africa Medal with the usual two clasps. His QSA was impressed with the wrong initial and no attempt was made to correct it.

 

The Greys saw plenty of action during the Boer War, firstly as part of General French's forces, which advanced to the relief of the besieged town of Kimberley, and in various later engagements. The full details can be read here. On 25th June 1901, Thomas Haynes was tried by Court Martial and found guilty of "When on active service, using insubordinate language to his superior officer." He was sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No:1, which would have involved spending part of each day tied to a wagon wheel. In addition, he forfeited his Good Conduct Pay.

In November 1902, Thomas was transferred to the 1st Class Army Reserve, being finally discharged on 18th September 1905, on the completion of his 12 years of service.