Part 184

=THOMAS, JOHN ARLOE EDWARD=, Leading Carpenter’s Crew, 345555, H.M.S. Hawke, _s._ of Charles Thomas, of 17, St. Thomas Green, Haverfordwest; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=THOMAS, JOHN BAKER=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 9863), S.S. 106671, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THOMAS, MAURICE=, Private, No. 1715, 1/4th (Service) Battn. the Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of the late Thomas Henry Thomas, of Worthing, by his wife, Ellen (11, Stanhope Road, Worthing), dau. of William Knight, of Washington, Sussex; _b._ Worthing, co. Sussex, 4 April, 1897; educ. St. Andrew’s Higher Grade School there, and on leaving became a messenger boy at the Worthing G.P.O. and had passed his examinations for the staff when war broke out. He had joined the Royal Sussex Territorials, 14 Aug. 1913; was called up 4 Aug. 1914, and volunteered for foreign service, and left England for the Dardanelles in July, 1915. He was attd. to the machine-gun section of his battn., landed at Suvla Bay, 8 Aug. and was killed in action there four days later, 12 Aug. 1915, as his battn. was retiring after being relieved from the front trenches. The Turks opened a heavy machine-gun fire on them, and he was hit and killed almost immediately. He was buried where he fell at Anafarta Sagir, 1.20-000-105H, near Track to Chocolate Hill between 4–7 p.m. He was a prominent member of the Holy Trinity Church Lads’ Naval Brigade.

=THOMAS, PHILLIP PERCIVAL=, A.B., 231687, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THOMAS, THOMAS JAMES=, Petty Officer, 2nd Class (R.F.R., B. 3800), 189482, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THOMAS, WALTER JAMES=, Corpl., R.M.L.I., Po./10970, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=THOMPSON, ALBERT RICHARD=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 1994), 211537, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=THOMPSON, ARCHER=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 8602), S.S. 104956, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=THOMPSON, BERNARD HARRY LEOPOLD=, Ch. E.R.A., 1st Class, 175938, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=THOMPSON, EDWARD=, A.B., 226948, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=THOMPSON, GEORGE MASTERMAN=, Lieut., 1st Battn. The Royal Scots, attd. Gold Coast Regt. West African Frontier Force, only _s._ of the late Col. George William Thompson, formerly commanding 1st Battn. Royal Scots (who saw service in the Crimea, China, and India), by his wife, Agnes (Beechwood, Burley, co. Hants), dau. of Admiral John Russell; _b._ Etschowe, Zululand, 21 Feb. 1890; educ. Mr. Stanford’s Private School, St. Aubyns, Rottingdean; Wellington College, and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2nd Royal Scots, 18 Sept. 1909; transferred to 1st Battn. in Jan. 1910, and served three years in India; promoted Lieut. 13 Feb. 1913, and attd. to the Gold Coast Regt. West African Frontier Force, and was killed in action, 22 Aug. 1914, while gallantly leading an attack on a strongly entrenched position at Chra, Togoland: “a deed of extraordinary courage.” Buried at Chra; _unm._ Lord Kitchener forwarded to his relatives an official letter from the Governor-General of French West Africa, saying: “That he had decided that the splendid behaviour on 22 Aug. 1914, in the affair of Chra, of Lieut. Thompson, of His Britannic Majesty’s Army, and of the detachment of French native troops commanded by that officer, deserved to be commemorated in a Special General Order, as an example to all the troops in the Colony”; and one from General Pienau, forwarding the Order: “and expressing his very deep admiration for the magnificent way in which this officer performed his duty as a soldier, when sacrificing his life.” The terms of the Order were: “Placed on 22 Aug. before the fight of Chra under the orders of Capt. Castaing of the Dahomey Brigade, he gave proof of supreme courage, of fine qualities of command in leading his Tirailleurs to the attack of German trenches vigorously defended--fifty metres from the enemy’s line he fell mortally wounded--his splendid example earned that almost the whole of the French Tirailleurs placed under his orders laid down their lives defending his body.” The Commanding Officer wrote: “His conduct during the action was particularly gallant. He was killed while attempting to storm the German trenches on the enemy’s left. He was an officer who was genuinely popular with all ranks and one whom we could ill afford to lose, and I wish to convey to you not only my own profound sympathy in your loss, which is also mine, but that of all ranks of the Togoland Field Force. His conduct was that of a gallant officer and gentleman.” The Adjutant wrote: “I had more opportunities than anybody of realising your son’s sterling qualities as a soldier in peace times and his conspicuous gallantry in times of war. His loss is deeply felt by the whole force”; and a District Commissioner wrote: “His proficiency in the language and his influence over the natives, both soldiers and civilians, were astonishing, and great regret was evinced by all at Quittah, where the force of his personality had been very much felt during the short time he had been in command there, the chief asking leave to visit the grave at Chra.” Lieut. Thompson was a fine linguist, and besides speaking French and the native dialect fluently, had passed the higher standard in Hindustani and Persian. He was a keen sportsman and a good fencer and polo player.

=THOMPSON, GILBERT=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Connaught Rangers, attd. as Adjutant 13th Battn. (Princess Louise’s Kensington) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Reginald Thompson, of Loftus Hill, Knaresborough, Col. 2nd Vol. Battn. West York Regt., by his wife, Frances Harriet, 4th dau. of the Rev. Charles Smith Royds, of Haughton, co. Stafford, and Heysham, co. Lancaster, J.P., and gdson. of Sir Matthews William Thompson, of Guiseley, 1st Bart.; _b._ Baildon Lodge, 22 June, 1877; educ. Yarlet near Stafford, afterwards privately; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2nd Connaught Rangers, from the Militia, 20 May, 1899, and promoted Lieut. 24 July, 1900, and Capt. 29 Nov. 1905; served eight years with them in India; appointed Adjutant to the Kensingtons, 1 Jan. 1913; left for France with them 3 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Laventie, 24 Feb. 1915. Buried at Picantin. One of the men, writing home, said of him: “We have lost one of our best officers. Capt. Thompson, the Adjutant. He was showing the General round, and he was shot in the head. He was one of the best; he thought of the men first and himself last. Every man is sorry at his death.... The men have lost their best friend.” Another man wrote: “Out in the trenches he was splendid. He would come along and ask how we were and always have something cheery to say. He got his feet frost-bitten and asked what he should do.... ‘See the doctor, sir,’ I said. ‘Not I,’ he replied. ‘He’ll want a few toes off and put me on the sick list.’ And he wouldn’t, with all my persuasion. When my feet got very bad, I rode back three miles on his horse and the next morning he came round to see me. He’s splendid.” He was buried in the little cemetery behind the firing-line. His last request was: “Bury me with the boys, not beside the officers,” and this wish was carried out. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 5 April and 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915. Capt. Thompson _m._ at Finghall, Yorkshire, 7 June, 1906, Ethel Isabella, 2nd dau. of Marmaduke D’Arcy Wyvill, of Constable Burton and Denton Park, Yorkshire, J.P., D.L., and had three children: Christopher Smith Byron, _b._ 19 April, 1907; Laura Barbara Frances, _b._ 10 Nov. 1908, and Naomi Isabella, _b._ 23 Oct. 1912.

=THOMPSON, JOHN=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4241), 168018, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THOMPSON, JOHN ALEXANDER MACKAY=, Lieut., 10th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldest _s._ of William Thomas Thompson, M.A., Sc. (McGill), M.Can.Soc. C.E., D.T.S., District Engineer, Grenfell, Saskatchewan, Canada, by his wife, Mary, eldest dau. of the late Rev. Alexander Mackay, M.A., and grandson of the late Lieut.-Col. John Hall Thompson. M.P.; _b._ Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, 6 Aug. 1890; educ. Qu’Appelle Schools and by tutors, afterwards by his father in Surveying and Engineering, and was acting as assistant to him when war broke out. In Dec. 1914, he was given a temporary Lieutenancy in the 16th Light Horse and, after qualifying at the Military Institute, Winnipeg, was gazetted Lieut. to the 32nd Battn. He left for England in Feb. 1915, and in April went with his company to reinforce the 10th Battn. in France, took part in the Second Battle of Ypres and was killed in the Battle of Festubert, leading his platoon in a night attack on the German position K. 5 (or Bexhill), 21 May following. He was _unm._, and was buried in a shell hole near K. 5. His men said that “he died like a hero, leading his men, on a rush attack right into a murderous fire,” and his commanding officer describing the attack on K. 5 wrote: “Lieut. Thompson in his quiet unassuming way led his platoon out to return no more--no better little soldier graced the 10th.” A brother officer wrote: “He was a soldier with few superiors, and a courage that knew no limits.”

=THOMPSON, ROBERT=, Stoker, R.N.R., 759V, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THOMPSON, SAMUEL VINCENT=, Signalman, 237351, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THOMPSON, THOMAS=, Private, No. 5690, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards; _b._ co. Kerry; enlisted 14 Nov. 1904; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 12 March, 1915.

=THOMPSON, WALTER DARCY=, Private, No. 4843, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of the late John Thompson, engineer; _b._ Elswick, Newcastle, 1883; educ. Southwick Board School; enlisted at Elswick, 26 Sept. 1902; left with the 1st Expeditionary Force for the Front on the outbreak of war, and was killed in action in France, 16 Sept. 1914. Private Thompson _m._ at Southwick, 21 Feb. 1906, Martha Alexandra, dau. of Robert Whyte, of Perth, and had two sons and one daughter: Vernon, _b._ 3 Nov. 1912; Walter Darcy, _b._ 11 Nov. 1914, and Edna, _b._ 21 April, 1909. His widow died 12 March, 1915, leaving the three infant children without any known relations. Capt. John Smith, of the Salvation Army at Southwick, took temporary charge of them, and Queen Alexandra hearing of the sad story wrote to Capt. Smith for particulars and expressed herself as anxious to assist in some way. The story was submitted to Her Majesty, and in reply a handsome money gift was sent for each child to be banked in trust for them.

=THOMPSON, WILLIAM JOHN HENRY=, Corpl., R.M.L.I., Ch./15133, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=THOMSON, ALEXANDER=, L.-Corpl., 6378, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards; _b._ Strickey, co. Aberdeen; enlisted 6 Jan. 1906; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 20–26 Oct. 1914. He _m._ Jennie (51, Esslemont Avenue, Aberdeen), dau. of (--) Anderson, and had two daus.: Mary Anderson, _b._ 20 April, 1910, and Joan, _b._ 25 June, 1915.

=THOMSON, ALEXANDER CAMERON=, Sergt., No. 1380, D Coy., 13th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 6th _s._ of James Thomson, of 57, St. Andrew Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of the late Alexander Cameron, of Rothes; _b._ Glasgow, 30 March, 1892; educ. Kinning Park Public School; was two years in the 7th S. R. Glasgow before going to Australia, 25 Nov. 1912; volunteered on the outbreak of war and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force in Sydney, N.S.W., 26 Sept. 1914; left for Egypt about 24 Dec.; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and after being promoted Corpl. and Sergt. was killed in action there, 3 May, 1915; _unm._ His Officer Commanding, Lieut. C. B. Hopkins, wrote: “Your son was killed on the night of 3 May, doing his duty in a most gallant manner, in a charge against some Turkish trenches.”

=THOMSON, DUNCAN TURNER=, Private, No. 118, 9th Battn. (Glasgow Highlanders) Highland Light Infantry (T.F.). _s._ of Alexander Thomson, of 8, Hamilton Park Terrace, Glasgow, M.B., C.M., Edinburgh, by his wife, Mary J. McKean, dau. of the Rev. Duncan Turner, M.A.; _b._ Huntly, co. Aberdeen, 23 Dec. 1888; educ. Glasgow Academy, and the Royal Technical College, Glasgow; was a fully qualified and diplomated architect, and was in the employment of Mr. P. Macgregor Chelmers, Glasgow; joined the 9th Highland L.I. Territorials in 1908; volunteered for active service on the outbreak of war; went to France in Oct. 1914, and died in the General Hospital, Northampton, 30 July, 1915, of wounds received in action on 19 June. He was shot by a sniper when on duty in the trenches at Vermelles; _unm._ Capt. A. K. Reid wrote: “He was a man for whom I had the highest regard, especially since we came out here, and he was one of the most popular members of the company. His good humour even under the most trying circumstances caused him to be liked by all. He could be trusted at all times to do his duty as a soldier and as a man. I saw him in the Vermelles trenches a few minutes after he was hit, and he left us to walk back to the dressing station with a cheery good-bye to us all”; and one of his comrades, writing to a friend, said: “You doubtless have heard of Duncan Thomson’s death. Man! Why is it that all those splendid sportsmen get knocked out, and the rest of us go free. He was an awfully decent chap and I saw quite a lot of him in the G.H. at Dunfermline and in France. A more thorough, straighter, cleaner chap you could not meet. Five of the old 1st Battn.--friends of his--and myself carried the coffin into the Kirk, and then again to the grave. It wasn’t a military funeral (military honours having been paid when the body left Northampton), so we could only salute his grave, but if ever a man deserved honours at his graveside he did. We called him ‘Sniper’ out there, for the simple reason that he was so delightfully cool and casual. He never fired a shot at anything unless he was absolutely certain. If ever you wanted a hot drink, or anything to cheer yourself up with, you went to Duncan, and sure enough then you got it.”

=THOMSON, HENRY=, L.-Corpl., No. 2713, 2nd Battn. Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 13 Nov. 1914.

=THOMSON, LESLIE=, Rifleman, No. 1877, F Coy. 1/16th Battn. (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.). _s._ of Walter Thomson, of 18, Lorne Street, Reading, by his wife, Emma; _b._ Reading, co. Berks, 9 Feb. 1893; educ. Christ’s Hospital, West Horsham; volunteered and joined the Queen’s Westminsters, 5 Aug. 1914; went to France, 1 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action by a rifle grenade which burst just behind him in the trenches at Houplines, near Armentières, 18 March, 1915; _unm._ Buried in the hospital cemetery, Rue Carnot, Houplines. Major Tyrwhitt wrote to his parents: “Your son was always such a bright cheerful boy and such a good soldier,” and a letter signed by 42 men, including officers of his company (Sec. 11), also bore testimony to the respect in which he was held by all.

=THORBURN, WILLIAM=, Sergt.-Artificer, A.S.C., No. M./2, 101388, attd. to the 11th Battery, Motor Machine Gun Service, eldest _s._ of William Thorburn, of 110, Second Avenue, Clydebank, Linotype Operator, by his wife, Jessie Symington, 3rd dau. of the late Alexander Briton, Boot and Shoe Maker, Queen Street and Shawlands, Glasgow; _b._ Glasgow, 27 May, 1894; educ. at Dalmuir Public School, Clydebank; was employed by the Singer Manufacturing Company, Kilbowie, as an Engineer; enlisted 18 Nov. 1914; was promoted Corpl. and transferred to the Active Service Corps on Saturday, 29 May, 1915, being attd. to the 11th Battery, Motor Machine Guns, as Mechanic, and went to France on 7 July, 1915. He was employed at the time of his death in a blacksmith’s shop constructing an iron covering to bring a cycle and machine gun into action under cover, when one of the battery accidentally discharged a loaded revolver at 8 a.m. on Saturday, 7 Aug. 1915. The bullet entered his throat and travelled to his back and down the spine, and two and three-quarter hours later he died in hospital. He was buried in Chocques Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, just outside Bethune; _unm._

=THORNTON, EDWARD=, Private, No. 11817, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of William Thornton, of 16, Berkeley Street, Lambeth; _b._ co. Surrey; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; killed in action near Cambrin, 27 June, 1915; _unm._

=THORNTON, JACK=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2997), 220331, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=THORNTON, LEACH=, Telegraphist, J. 11559, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=THORNTON, WILLIAM CHATMAN=, A.B., S.S. 1435, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=THORPE, CYRIL KIRKMAN=, A.B., J. 7169, H.M.S. Laurel; killed in action in the Heligoland Bight, 28 Aug. 1914.

=THORPE, EDWARD ARTHUR=, Stoker, 1st Class, 310026, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THORPE, GEORGE ROBERT=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 110938 (Ports.), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THRUSH, GEORGE=, S.P.O. (R.F.R., B. 2050), 164113, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=THUMWOOD, ARTHUR GEORGE=, Leading Stoker, 300662, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=THUNDERCLIFFE, ERNEST=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 8086 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THURGOOD, JOHN EDWARD=, Petty Officer, 180071, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THURLEY, ALBERT EDWARD=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./14029, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=THURLEY, ANSELL GIFFORD=, Armourer’s Crew, M. 2565, H.M.S. Hawke, _s._ of Joseph Thurley, of 24, Station Road, Westgate-on-Sea; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=THURLOW, ARTHUR GEOFFREY=, 2nd Lieut., 8th Battn. Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regt., only _s._ of the late Arthur James Thurlow, of The Rookery, High Wycombe, co. Bucks, by his wife, Florence; _b._ High Wycombe, 8 Nov. 1891; educ. Norfolk House School, Beaconsfield; Felsted School, and won an open classical scholarship at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (where he graduated B.A. with classical honours, June 1914); gazetted 2nd Lieut., 8th Duke of Wellington’s Regt., 9 Sept. 1914; left for the Dardanelles, 1 June, 1915; took part in the landing at Suvla Bay, 6 Aug.; was wounded 21 Aug., and died at Alexandria, 29 Aug. 1915, of his wounds; _unm._ Buried at Alexandria. He was a fine athlete; was Captain of his College football team, and a member of The Wanderers Club, and played hockey for the University.

=THURSTON, SIDNEY GEORGE=, A. B. (R.F.R., B. 9808), 203210, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=TIBBO, JAMES JOSEPH=, Private, No. 1017, D Coy. 1st Newfoundland Regt., 2nd _s._ of Richard Tibbo, of 7, Lime Street, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Labourer, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of Richard Roach; _b._ St. John’s aforesaid, 12 Nov. 1894; educ. St. Patrick’s Hall and Holy Cross Christian Brothers’ Schools; was a Seaman; joined the Newfoundland Regt. 13 Jan. 1915; left for England, 20 March; went to the Dardanelles, and was killed in action there, 1 Dec. 1915, while gallantly assisting a stretcher bearer to remove the wounded; _unm._

=TIDBURY, ALFRED HARRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9670), S.S. 107002, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=TIDMAN, THOMAS JAMES SAMUEL=, Petty Officer, 196090, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=TIERNEY, THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9535), S.S. 106901, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=TIGHE, BERNARD=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4818), S.S. 1738, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=TILBURY, DAVID=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., B. 548), late R.M.A., 5982, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=TILDESLEY, HARRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3195), S.S. 100853; H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=TILLETT, JAMES ALFRED=, Petty Officer, 1st Class (O.S.), 178794, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=TILLEY, HENRY PERCIVAL=, Private, No. 8669, 1st Battn. Scots Guards; _b._ Parkstone, co. Dorset; enlisted 5 Aug. 1913; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 26 Oct. 1914.

=TILLEY, JAMES CHARLES=, Gunner, R.M.A., 1288, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.