Thomas Henry Mason BM's MFF
 

Name - "official" name and what they were known as
Thomas Henry Mason
Date and place of birth
2 March 1854 Barming, Kent
Names of parents
Thomas (Henry) Mason & Clara Giffard (they married on his second birthday)
Date and place of baptism - if applicable
Details of each of his or her marriages - if any
24 September 1882 to Emma Elizabeth Wall
Occupation(s) - if any
1881 Musician
1882 Warehouseman
1891 Drapers Porter
1901 Tailors Assistant
Military service - if any
1871 - Bandsman in guards
Addresses where they lived - and please list which censuses you have or haven't found him/her on.
1854 - Barming
1861 104 Brook Road Lambeth
1871 11 William Street Battersea
1881 4 Pitt St Soutwark
1891 88 Castle St Battersea
1897 20 Shield St Peckham
1907 20 Shield St
1911 24 Colegrove Road
1921 34 Radnor St
1923 34 Radnor St
Date, place and cause of death
unknown
Date and place of burial / cremation.
unknown
Details of will / administration of their estate - if applicable
unknown
Memorial inscription - if any
unknown

Although he obviously was in the army at some stage, we haven't found any records. His son's house was full of wierd and wonderful victorian musical instruments - all sadly lost now.
He is alledged to have split with his wife on a regular basis, and we don't know for sure where or when he died.

FMP has a Thomas Hy Mason listed in the "Chelsea Pensioners' discharge documents 1760-1887" database. Page is headed "Scots Frontier Regiment of Guards". In the "Battalion" column it says 2900 2. I'm guessing that 2900 is his army number and 2 the number of the battalion? Rank is Private. Applicant is Regiment. Date of application 18th May 1875. Character Good. Cause of discharge - Miscellaneous (services no longer required.) Amount of service towards GC pay and pension 3 yrs 36 days. Date of discharge 25 May 1875.

Although this would suggest his service began in 1872 and so couldn't be your Thomas, I think it could be that they only counted service after his eighteenth birthday.

This is the link to the image which should be free to view today:
http://search.findmypast.co.uk/recor...hlights=%22%22

There is a Thomas H Mason death Apr-Jun 1924 Poplar, age 68. And Deceased Online has him listed as Thomas Henry Mason, buried 3 Apr 1924 at Manor Park Cemetery, Newham. They have the grave details and burial register scan available to view but you have to pay. I checked the National Probate Calendar but didn't find him listed.

Thank you, Kite! New eyes always spot something I've missed.

I've wondered about that Essex burial. It's a common grave, so he may have just disappeared on a drunken spree.