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