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Interestingly, Webster gave his intended place of residence upon discharge as number 36 Cross Street Smethwick, very sad indeed, but, I suppose certainly far from unique, it does make one wonder if all the gold under the rand was really worth all that effort.

I've bought a pdf of his death certificate, so we now have the exact date of his death, and also his age, 38; however, it gives where he died as being 101, Union Street, Smethwick Urban District, whereas the newspaper report says he died in the workhouse infirmary. W. Smith, who was both present at and reported the death, also resided at 101, Union Street.

Can anyone make out his place of work? Labourer at Lyon Works?

Iron works

Peter

The Cardiff Times got it slightly wrong and he was previously employed by Astbury & Sons who were iron founders and famous for having made a lot of the ironwork that went into the Crystal Palace which was home of the Great Exhibition in 1851.

The Smethwick Telephone pf May 19th 1900 has an article about Thomas Webster entitled "A Chat with a Reservist". The following gives the pertinent points of the article:
Thomas joined the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in 1888 and served in India for nearly 8 years where he was only involved in light skirmishing. He completed his term with the colours in 1896 and then went to work for Astbury & Sons. He was one of 639 Reservists of his regiment who answered the summons when war broke out against South Africa. The Regiment sailed from the Royal Albert Docks on Guy Fawkes Day aboard the "Formosa" and on 29th November 1899 they sighted Capetown. His regiment was at once ordered to De Aar where they stayed for a month before proceeding to the Orange River to join Lord Robert's column and then on to Paardeberg. They reached here on 17th January and went into action early next morning. After lying on the ground for several hours he was struck by a Mauser bullet which penetrated his bely and narrowly missed his spine before exiting his body. He was carried away by stretcher but another enemy bullet broke one of the poles causing him to fall to the ground. After staying at the Field Hospital he was taken to the Modder River and thence by hospital train to Capetown where he stayed for 5 weeks. He spoke very highly of the nurses. He returned home on the "Dunotter Castle" and arrived in Plymouth Sound on Easter Monday. His sadness at having to come home was worsened by the death of his father during his absence. He spent another week in hospital before coming back to friends in Smethwick. The Mayor paid him several visits and he was grateful for the assistance received from the Reservists Fund Committee. On the morning after he had been injured Cronje surrendered and when the wounded were removed Lord Robert's shook the hand of each one of them. Almost the same time that Thomas was wounded the Adjutant of his Regiment had been killed and he had been invited to spend a week's holiday at the residence of the Adjutant's Father-in-law, Rev Willberforce Saulez in Okehampton. At the end of the "chat" Thomas remarked "I shall get a medal and bar for my injuries".
Move on two years and a half years and Thomas received a shorter mention in the Smethwick Telephone of 12th December 1902. A friend had written to the paper suggesting the need for an appeal on his behalf as the Reservist Fund had been used up.
As has already been reported he died a couple of months later.

Based on newly gained knowledge, thanks to David (Biggins), I have to point out the Smethwick Telephone reporter error in the passage previously posted - in "They [2nd Battalion DCLI] reached here on 17th January and went into action early next morning" please read "February" for "January". The next day, 18th February 1900 they took part in their "famous Cornish Charge" (to quote Noonan's) during the Battle of Paardeberg.