Corporal 25B/609 William Thomas Carpenter 2/24th Regiment

Only one William Carpenter in Holmes no middle name given.Not at RD during the battle,
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Gloucestershire Echo - Wednesday 08 November 1939
1877-78-79 clasp

23rd South Wales Borderers:shock:
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Gloucester Citizen - Friday 10 November 1939

I am not sure why you are making all these posts. Norman Holme put together 'The Noble 24th' now some 24 years ago - the world and internet has moved forward. We are lucky that Alan Baynham Jones did more research on the men of the 24th............>

CARPENTER William Thomas – Corporal – 25B/609 – 2nd/24th
BORN:
Walford, Nr. Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England 18/11/1855. Baptised into the Church of England at Walford village Church.
PARENTS:
John Carpenter born in Walford c.1828, trade Plasterer.
Elizabeth Carpenter nee Bennett born in Walford c.1823, they married December quarter 1852.
BROTHERS/SISTERS:
Elizabeth Edith born in Walford September quarter 1853. Emily born at 5 King Street Gardens, St. Paul’s, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire June quarter 1857. Alice Mary born in St. Paul’s, Cheltenham September quarter 1861.
TRADE:
He had various types of employment; General Labourer, Tiller and Plasterer.
MARRIED:
Eliza Ann Thorn Toomer born in Farranton, Dorset c.1861 a Servant of Little Howl, Walford, they married at Walford March quarter 1883 and moved into lodgings at 10 Argyle Street, Llantrisant, Glamorganshire, William was working as a Coal Tipper. Eliza died at Llantrisant, Pontypridd District June quarter 1896 due to Tuberculosis.
CHILDREN:
Edith Emily born c.1882. John born in Walford c.1884-5.
RE-MARRIED:
Fanny Damsell (Widow) nee Roberts at Llantrisant December quarter 1897, she was born in the Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire c.1861. Fanny died at Monmouth October quarter 1933 aged 73 years.
CHILDREN:
Including step children: Gertrude Amelia Damsell born in Cheltenham June quarter 1886. Elizabeth Annie (Bessie) Damsell born in Cheltenham March quarter 1888. Charles Benjamin Damsell born in Cheltenham December quarter 1890. William Henry Damsell born in Cheltenham December quarter 1895. Lydia later Cocking born in the Monmouth District September quarter 1898. Thomas born in the Monmouth District March quarter 1900. Fanny born in the Monmouth District December quarter 1900. William Thomas (Ben) born in the Monmouth District 19/9/1907. (There are other possible Children: Edward born c. September 1902, Osborn born c. December 1906, Charles William born c. September 1908 and Albert born c. December 1910 all in the Monmouth District).
PERSONAL DETAILS:
By 1898 he had returned to Tiling and Plastering. By the turn of the century he was working as a Stone Mason and for many years worked on Tintern Abbey in the Wye Valley, Monmouthshire. He would travel to Tintern on a Monday morning in his pony and trap and return home on Friday night, he had a passion for music, books and Indian Curries. The 1901 census shows him living in Broadwell Lane End, Broadwell, Nr. Coleford, Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire; he lived here until his death. The small wooden bungalow he lived in was re-built by him in stone and brick. He would also slaughter beasts for local people at the rear of his home as well as doing Painting & Decorating.
DEATH:
Died at his home in Broadwell Lane End, Broadwell, Nr. Coleford, Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England December quarter 1939 aged 83 years. Buried in Christchurch Parish Churchyard, Nr. Coleford. Grave un-marked.
SERVICE DETAILS:
Enlisted & Attested at Monmouth, Monmouthshire 17/7/1875 aged 19 years. Served in the Kaffir (sic) & Zulu Wars 1877-8-9. Served at Casemate Barracks Gibraltar in the Mediterranean until early 1880. Served in India until 1881, while there he was reduced to Lance/Corporal and Transferred to the 1st/24th Foot. Returned to Colchester, Essex c. November 1881. Reduced to Private no date. Sent on furlough to Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England 6/12/1882 – 16/1/1883 before being transferred to the reserve. Transferred to the army reserve 17/1/1883. Description: Aged 26 years, height 5’7½”, complexion brown, hair dark, eyes grey. Discharged from the army reserve c. January 1889.
HONOURS/AWARDS:
South Africa Medal 1877-8-9 with clasp 1877-8-9. India General Service Medal 1854-95 clasps unknown.
PUBLICATIONS:
See the Forest Guardian Newspaper (now The Forester, Lydney) 1937 for his story.