Arthur Herbert Thompson

Rank 
Second Lieutenant
Regiment 
London Regiment
Date of death 
1 October 1916
Age of death 
23
Address 
Dunnottar
Buckingham Road
South Woodford
Woodford
E18 2NJ
Address source 
1911 Census
Cemetery / Memorial 
France
Biography 

Born on 23th May 1893 at Woodford, the younger son of William T (Salesman) and Lizzie Ada Thompson. 1901: He was with his family at Eltham Villa Stanley Road, South Woodford. 1911: The family home was “Dunnottar" Buckingham Road, South Woodford. and the Census of that year recorded Arthur as a 17 year old Accounts Articled Clerk. This was the year that his father died. Arthur attended Bancroft’s School from 1901 - 1908, where he was prominent on the football field. He was also well known in the Old Bancroftian Association, where his skills continued to be displayed in the old boys’ football club.

In November 1914 having passed his final examinations as a Chartered Accountant, he enlisted as a Private in the 14 London Regiment, serving for about one year before being Commissioned in 17 London Regiment. Posted to France in 12-15, he had been involved in heavy fighting, but was unhurt in spite of some near misses. He survived the action at High Wood.

1st October 1916 saw the Battle of Le Transloy, in which Thompson’s Battalion attacked at Eaucourt L’Abbaye. They did not enjoy the support of two tanks like the 1/19 and 1/20 London Battalions, and were impeded by uncut barbed wire. The Battalion encountered machine gun fire some 400 yards from the enemy trenches, where Thompson was hit in the throat and wrist, being instantly Killed in Action. A German counter attack forced the Battalion to retreat.

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Woodford Times

The Bancroftian

For more information on this individual please see The Old Bancroftian website.