Thomas had previously been in the Royal Irish Regiment and bought himself out in Feb 1892
He had a brush with the law and was imprisoned in Ayr in 1892. He enlisted in Kings Own Scottish Borderers in October 1892 and was transferred to the Royal Scots Fusiliers. He was a collier in 1892
In the 1901 census he was a late soldier, having just been discharged on 11 March 1901. He was living with his older sister Catherine (Gilchrist) Welsh's family.
Letters home from the front were published in the Cumnock Chronicle. The readership was eager for any news from the front.
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From the Scotsman, Wed 10 March 1915
A CUMNOCK SOLDIER KILLEDAt a meeting of Cumnock Town Council, before the commencement of business, Provost Richmond said he felt compelled to make reference to the sad news which came this morning of the death of their townsman Thomas Gilchrist who was killed at the front. For many years Mr Gilchrist took a keen interest in the affairs of the burgh, and they all had experience of his keen heckling, of which he was a past master. Several times they had been gladdened by his cheerful communications from the start of the war. They had proofs of his constant effort to keep his comrade in arms cheerful in their times of depression and danger, and of his own kindness of heart in ministering to the wounded. It was agreed to send an expression of sympathy to Private Gilchrist's wife and children.
He was a private in the Royal Scots Fusiliers and died in France on 27 Feb 1915. He is remembered on the Perth Cemetery, China Wall, in Ypres in Belgium. He is remembered on Cumnock War Memorial.
Thomas was born in Cumnock on 27 Sep 1874 to Irish parents, miner James Gilchrist and Hannah Galloway. In 1891 the parents were at Townhead Street. In 1901 Thomas 26 was living with his older sister Catherine Welsh's family in Bridgend, described as "late soldier".
He married Mary Dillon in 1905 and they had James in 1908 and Annie in 1910 and Hannah in 1914.
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