| Thackeray | Thomas Martin Gerard | | Lieutenant Colonel | He was killed in action in the operations on the Upper Tugela, February 23rd - 24th, 1900. He was born in June 1849, entered the 16th Foot November 1868, being promoted Lieutenant in October 1871. He exchanged into the 1st Battalion West India Regiment in January 1876, subsequently obtaining his captaincy in the Royal Inniskiliing Fusiliers, March 1881, being promoted Major December 1889, and Lieutenant Colonel to command the 1st battalion of his regiment, November 1897. During 1880 and part of 1881, he served as fort adjutant at Sierra Leone. Lieutenant Colonel Thackeray proceeded to South Africa in command of his battalion in November 1899, and being sent on to Natal, joined the Ladysmith Relief Force, under General Sir R Buller. Lieutenant Colonel Thackeray was present at the battle of Colenso and the subsequent fighting on the Tugela up to his death. Mr Bennett Burleigh relates how at the battle of Colenso Lieutenant Colonel Thackeray found himself in command of a mixed party of Inniskillings, Dublins, Connaughts, and Borderers, and saved his party from capture by his wit and fortitude. He was under cover with these men where they had been left, and the order to retire had not reached them. About 1 pm, an ambulance approached and the red cross was raised. An informal truce was then inaugurated, the Boer firing ceased and some of them advanced, while Lieutenant Colonel Thackeray was moving off with his men. The Boer leader called on the party to surrender and lay down their arms. "No" said Colonel Thackeray, "you advanced under the red cross, and we allowed you to do so, let us go back and begin the fight again" and continued to argue the point. The Boer then said "Perhaps you are right, I'll turn my back and won't see you" and the commander of the Inniskillings then retired with his party. Lieutenant Colonel Thackeray was killed the same day as Lieutenant Colonel Sitwell of the Dublins, and Thorold of the Welsh Fusiliers. Sir A Conan Doyle writes "Thorold, Thackeray, and Sitwell in one evening, who can say that British colonels have not given their men a lead?" Lieutenant Colonel Thackeray was mentioned in despatches, LG, February 8th, 1901, by General Sir R Buller, who referred to the great loss the country had sustained by his death. Lieutenant Colonel Thackeray, Major Sanders and Lieutenant W O Stuart, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, all lay beside each other in one large grave at the foot of the hill where they fell (known as Harts or Railway or Inniskilling Hill). A marble headstone was erected by their brother officers. An obelisk, 27 feet high, was also erected by their comrades on this hill in memory of all ranks of the 1st Battalion Inniskillings, who fell there. It bears the following inscription "Near this spot were killed or mortally wounded on February 23rd - 24th 1900, Lieutenant Colonel T M G Thackeray, commanding, Major F A Sanders, 2nd in command, Lieutenant W O Stuart, and 65 NCO and men of the 27th Inniskillings whilst advancing to the relief of Ladysmith".
Source: Donner | Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers |
