Thomas Worthington in WW1

Boer War Campaign

Prior to Thomas enlisting for the WW1 campaign, he had previously enlisted and fought in South Africa during the Boer War.

Thomas originally enlisted as Private 5369 in the Derbyshire Regiment Royal Artillery on 14th July 1897. He was posted to depot on 17th July 1897 and deserted on 5th September 1897, subsequently rejoining the depot on 6th October 1897. On 15th October 1897, Thomas was tried for desertion and losing by neglect his equipment. He was sentenced to imprisonment and forfeited all former service, which now reckoned from 15th October 1897.

At the end of his sentence, Thomas transferred to 1st Battalionn Sherwood Foresters on 8th January 1898 under service no 32898/F. He elected to come under the new rules laid down in the Special Army Order dated 2nd April 1898. On 28th January 1900, he transferred to General Service Infantry of Notts & Derbyshire Regt. On 3rd December 1900 Thomas was granted good conduct pay. The 29th May 1901 saw him promoted to Corporal and earning the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry in the field at Vlakfontein. On 18 July 1902 Thomas reverted to rank of Private at his own request.

royal artillery cap badge

Royal Artillery Cap Badge

Due to good conduct, Thomas had his services restored to accrue from 14th July 1897 to 2 September 1897, which had been previously forfeited, under the authority of paragraph 1842 of the King’s Regulations C.E. Service then reckoned from 25 August 1897. He was again granted good conduct pay on 25th August 1903. Following his transfer to 1st Battalionn Sherwood Foresters Reserve, number 56890, he forfeited his Good Conduct badge on 5th Oct 1904.

Despite previous heroic actions, Thomas appeared to revert to old ways and, on 12 Oct 1904 he was conducted to 112 days imprisonment, being released from custody on 31st January 1905. On 2nd March 1905 he forfeited 1 day’s pay. Thomas transferred to Section B AR on 9 September 1905 and, on 5th June 1906, he was again tried for misdemeanour and sentenced to either 14 days' confinement or 20s fine. He was subsequently discharged from his first period of engagement on 24th August 1909.

Medal Entitlements:
Queens South Africa Medal + 4 clasps (Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, Cape Colony)
King’s South Africa Medal + 2 clasps (South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902)

World War 1

Thomas' second period of engagement began when he re-attested on 28th January 1910 for the Notts & Derby Regient army reserve, and finished when he was discharged on 27th January 1914.

His third period of engagement began with his attestation on 20th February 1914 to the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, under number 612739. On 27th February 1914 he was transferred to 3rd Btn Sherwood Foresters and mobilsed on 7th August 1914. Thomas was finally transferred to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters on 11th November 1914, and was posted with the British Expeditionary (BE) Force. Thomas saw several periods of battle during the time in the 2nd Bn. On 9th May 1917, Thomas was transferred to the Royal Engineers and posted to the 296 Railway Company on 10th May 1917.

sherwood foresters

Sherwood Foresters Cap Badge

On the 7th September 1917 he transferred to 17th Btn Sherwood Foresters, but continued to be paid at the Royal Engineers rate of pay. He was posted the same day. 8th February 1918 saw Thomas being posted to the 2/8th Btn Sherwood Foresters, and a further transfer saw Thomas being moved on 25th August 1918 to the 1st Battalion Essex Regiment under number 49987. He was posted to a depot on 22nd November 1918, and then posted to Catterick depot on 5th December 1918. On 4th January 1919 he was posted to the 3rd Battaltion Essex Regiment.

royal engineers cap badge

Royal Engineers Cap Badge

essex reg cap badge

Essex Regiment Cap Badge

Thomas was awarded the Military Medal on 26th March 1919, and was discharged from service on 22nd June 1919. However, he re-enlisted on 23rd June 1919 and was attached to the Royal Engineers under his previous number of 612739. He was posted to No. 1 Coy on 30th June 1919 and sent to France on 21st July 1919. Thomas was awarded the Bar to the Military Medal on 20th August 1919. He returned to the UK on 1st May 1920, and was finally discharged on 8th May 1920.

Although I don't yet have Battalion Diary extracts for the above, information on certain Battalions mentioned on this page can be found by clicking HERE.