Thomas James (soldier)
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Thomas James | |
|---|---|
 Portrait, likely of James, by Thomas Phillips, 1821 | |
| Born | c. 1789 |
| Died | c. 1827 (aged 37–38) Unknown |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Service years | 1809–1821 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 18th Hussars 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards |
| Conflicts | |
Private Thomas James (c. 1789 – c. 1827) was a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars. Born in Montserrat, James eventually made his way to England and began working as a domestic servant in Surrey. In 1809, he enlisted in the British Army's 18th Hussars as a bandsman and served in the Peninsular War. James subsequently served in the 1815 Waterloo campaign, and though missing the Battle of Waterloo he was injured defending the baggage of his regiment's officers from Hanoverian Army deserters.
In 1816, James was awarded the Waterloo Medal, one of only nine Black soldiers known to have received it. He left the British army at some point, but re-enlisted in the 18th Hussars in 1819. The regiment was disbanded in 1821 while James was in Ireland, and he went to London and enlisted in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards as a bandsman, but was discharged in the same year. His further fate is unknown, but he possible died in 1827. In 2025, the National Army Museum identified James as a likely sitter in a newly-acquired portrait attributed to Thomas Phillips; publicity around the painting raised awareness about the presence of Black soldiers in the Georgian British Army.
Details of Thomas James' early life are not certain, but army records note that he was born in c. 1789 in Montserrat, possibly into slavery.[1] By 1809, James had made his way to England and had effectively become a free man, working in Sussex as a domestic servant. In June 1809, he enlisted in the British Army's 18th Hussars at Arundel for "unlimited service" at the rank of private.[2][3][4][5] His enlistment records describe James as being 5 foot 7 tall.[6]
At the time of James' enlistment, career options for Black men in Britain were limited, and those who did not wish to work as domestic servants often enlisted in the British army as musicians. As historians including John Ellis and Peter Fryer have documented, service in the army was attractive for potential black recruits due to its racial equality, including equal wages, pensions and treatment with white soldiers. James served as a bandsman in the 18th's regimental band, and was sent to Spain as part of the Peninsular War.[2][3][4][5][6]
Waterloo campaign
In 1815, James served in the Waterloo campaign of the War of the Seventh Coalition. The 18th Hussars left Britain and landed at Ostend in April 1815.[7] Though he was not present at the Battle of Waterloo, on 18 June, the day the battle was fought, James was badly injured while brawling with soldiers of the Hanoverian Army's Duke of Cumberland’s Hussars (Brunswickers) who had deserted and were attempting to loot the baggage of the 18th Hussar's officers. Though there were 20 British soldiers protecting the baggage, he was the only one who was severely wounded in the brawl.[2][3][4][5][6]
In 1816, James was awarded the Waterloo Medal along with the rest of his regiment that had served in the Waterloo campaign. The medal was the first British medal to be awarded to army personnel regardless of rank. Approximately 38,500 Waterloo Medals were issued in total, and James was one of only nine Black soldiers known to been awarded it.[2][3][4][5][6]