Born in 1895 at Lambourne End, Essex, son of Samuel (Grinder, formerly a Travelling Hawker) and Brittania Thompson. In 1891 his parents were recorded as living in a caravan within forest at Chigwell Row. By 1911 the family lived at 5 Model Cottages, Horn Lane, Woodford Green, Samuel being a Grinder and William having no occupation.
William was working as a Gas Labourer and living at 11 Smeaton Road, Woodford Bridge when he enlisted at Stratford on 7th September 1914, initially serving with the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, before transferring to the Machine Gun Corps in 1916. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field.
At 04.40 on 21st March 1918 “Operation Michael” the German Spring Offensive on the Somme Sector began with a barrage of high explosive and gas shells. This lasted some two hours, targeting initially British artillery and command/logistics facilities, before switching to the infantry positions in advance of a German ground attack.
18 Division to which William Thompson was attached were holding part of the line north of Travey and Moy de L’Aisne, some six miles south east of St Quentin. The Division was ordered to fall back and hold a new line by the Crozat Canal at Liez, Mennesis and Jussy. German forces broke through the new line and over the canal in several places during 23rd March 1918, and the Division was forced to withdraw once again. During this latter phase of the fighting, William Thompson was wounded and later reported missing. He was later classified as Killed in Action, and like many from this period of the war, his remains were not subsequently recovered.
After the war the widowed Brittania Thompson is recorded as living at 8 Back Church Road, Woodford Bridge.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com