World War 1
Search the known records to date of those lost from the wider Alnwick area in World War 1
Generally showing where they are commemorated, when they died and some basic facts about each person. There are gaps, however, so if you can fill in any missing details do please contact us.
Robert Thompson, MC
Forename(s):
Robert
Surname:
Thompson, MC
Initial(s):
R
Service Number:
Officer
Rank:
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment:
Northumberland Fusiliers, 1/7th Battalion Territorial Force
Died:
26/10/1917
Buried:
Tyne Cot Memorial (Tyne Cot Cemetery)
Service History:
In January 1916, joined the King's Royal Rifle Corp's 21st (Service) Battalion (Yeoman Rifles) under Lord Haversham. He went to the Front on 1 May 1916, & after promotion in the ranks was given a commission in the field in February 1917, being gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers.
Thompson saw much fighting & was awarded the Military Cross in July 1917 for his ability & daring.
A letter from his Colonel says:
'He was a fine, young man. Warkworth & the Duke's School have every reason to be proud of him. He won the Military Cross more quickly after coming out here than any other officer I have ever had & met his death when fighting a plucky & scientific fight. We were attacking a wood, & his platoon met with sever opposition from a camouflaged trench which had not before been discovered. He set himself to attack it with his men according to his training. I was able to send reinforcements to his help, but alas, before they arrived, he had been killed. He had an extraordinary nerve. Nothing seemed to daunt him, & the Battalion is proud to have him numbered amongst their officers. If I ever return to Alnwick, I hope to be able to personally convey to you the high opinion we all had of him.'
(Source: 'Portraits of War...'; Edited & compiled by June Watson; Wildgoose Press; 2016; pp. 60-61)
Background:
Born 1896, at Warkworth, Northumberland, the eldest son of Arthur (a House Agent & Tax Collector) & Mary Jane Thompson, of Castle Street, Warkworth. Thompson had two sisters, Mary & Charlotte (died young), & a brother, Arthur.
Educated at Duke's School, Alnwick.
In the last letter he wrote home before going into action, Thompson said:
'I will acquit myself like a man, & do as I have done before, play the game to the last, & if I fall, I fall. But if I come through, I come through once again, an honour to the regiment & to yourselves.
In my sight there are only two ways - do or die; & if I do, mark my words, I do it creditably, & if I die, I die nobly. More than that I cannot say.'
(Source: 'Portraits of War...'; Edited & compiled by June Watson; Wildgoose Press; 2016; pp. 60-61)
Local Memorial:
Alnwick, Memorial Plaque in former premises of the DukeÂ’s School
(Source: For Duke's School, Dudley George; August 2018)
Warkworth War Memorial, by St Lawrence's Church
Warkworth United Reformed Church Roll of Honour