Col. Edgar Hastings Thomas of the Indian Staff Corps (ret. 1889) was born at "Yaulnah" [Jalna], India 1 December 1837, son of Capt. George Hudleston Thomas and his wife Mary Ann (Broadhurst). Col. Thomas's wife (also on the stone) was Christian Jean[ette] Thomas, born at Calcutta 20 January 1846 and died at Bournemouth, Hants 9 August 1910, daughter of Alexander Wallace, Esq., of Peterhead and Calcutta, and his wife Helen Davidson Paton). Col. Thomas and Christian Wallace were married at Boulogne-sur-mer, France, 17 Dec. 1868. My grandmother Hilda Margaret Rose (Thomas) Otto (Rangoon 22 Nov. 1869-Los Angeles 10 March 1952) was the eldest of their four children. Several times in the years before 1913 (when she moved the family from Tenerife and Hannover to Canada) she brought her children to her parents' "tall house" in Lynton Watts avenue, Rochester. Family letters indicate that in 1908 Hilda and her mother, Mrs. Thomas, made pocket money selling Tenerife lace to Rochester family and friends. Many years ago now, my aunt Christine Caroline (Otto) Allen (1896-1990, named for her grandmothers) fondly described long visits to her grandparents' house, where Col. Thomas cooked curry in his study (the enticing aromas wafted throughout the house) and played the piccolo, to the protest of the family parrots. He also made sure that she had plenty of candy to enjoy. In 1903 he had published something on the Biblical Book of Daniel.

bio by Julie Helen Otto (His great-grandaughter).

Note; Col. Thomas's father (George Hudleston Thomas) is Find A Grave #94345982 (Bellary, Madras, India, 1839). Col. Thomas's mother (Mary Anne Broadhurst, 1805-1895) is probably buried in Weston-super-mare or her native Bath--she never remarried.