Corporal Thomas Hair had regimental number 3453 and served with the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot. 

He served in the Crimean War 1854-55. The war was caused by the Russian Tsar having designs on Constantinople which would have resulted in the almost entire loss of Turkey as an independent state. Great Britain and France agreed to support Turkey and declared war on Russia on the 28th of March 1853. The first troops would depart in February 1854, and a month later, the 95th would follow. Thomas saw action at Sebastopol during the war. 

He also served during the Indian Rebellion 1857-58, an uprising against the British East India Company’s rule in the country.