TOPIC:

I am searching form more details on the following person - Thomas Brown who left Sunderland in early 1902 to fight in the Boer war - possibly as a Corporal (see attached). He was later a footballer with Sunderland and St Mirren (1907-1910). Is this the same person as was reported in the Sunderland Echo on 27 March 1902 as dangerously ill with enteric - Private T. Brown 5022 1st Durham Light Infantry at Ermelo March 23, 1902

msgibson
Welcome to the Forum. I had a look on medal roll WO100/201 and on page 290 I found "5022 Pte. T.Brown" of 4th Bn., attached to 1st DLI and he earned the clasps 'Transvaal" and "Laing's Nek" on his QSA. There is no marginal note on "5022's" entry to indicate he was invalided with enteric. Not that that such notation is always present. So if your "Thomas Brown" left Sunderland in early 1902, it is unlikely that the two "T. Browns" you mention are one and the same - as the "Laing's Nek" clasp qualification is "5022's" presence at the front in early June, 1900.
Regards
IL.

Thank you for your reply. This helps me as it is the Sunderland born person who joined up in January 1902 I am interested in. He could have been a Corporal. I know he was back in Sunderland by September / October 1902 as he was back playing football for Sunderland Royal Rovers. He was 5'9" and weighed around 12 st when playing football.

I have a photo of Thomas Gibson as a Sunderland player in 1907

Your Picture.....

Sporting Chronicle 8 May 1908 states that Tom Brown served in Boer War and rose to the rank of Sergeant (comment: maybe in Durham Light Infantry??)