Thomas Thompson



Sep 9, 1891

Born in Carlisle, England to Isaac and Annie (nee Mooney) Thompson

 

Aug 9, 1912

Embarked the SS Tunisian in Liverpool with his mother

 
 

Aug 18, 1912

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Bowmanville, Ontario

 

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59975 (temporary number 815)

Ø  Next of kin given as Sydney Thompson, Bowmanville, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Meat Salesman

o   Later shown as Butcher

Ø  Previous military experience given as 46th Durham Regiment, Canadian Militia

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Assigned to No. 14 Platoon, “G” Company

o   This was later reorganized into “D” Company

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 
 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 
 

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

 

Sep 15, 1916

During the 21st Battalion’s attack on a strongly defended German position in a sugar factory south of Courcelette, France, Private Thompson was buried by the explosion of an artillery shell.  He was unconscious when his comrades dug him out and he was taken to the battalion’s aid station for first aid.  He was then taken to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Syncope (feinting spells that lead to temporary loss of consciousness)

 

Sep 18, 1916

Transferred to the No. 10 Rest Station

 

Sep 20, 1916

Transferred to the No. 16 Canadian General Hospital in Le Treport, France and the diagnosis is changed to read DAH (Disordered Activity of the Heart)

 

Oct 8, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 Convalescent Depot in Le Treport to continue his recovery

 

Oct 17, 1916

Discharged from hospital to light duties with the base details

 

Oct 27, 1916

His medical classification was changed to “C” meaning that he was no longer fit for combat service and invalided to England

 
On arrival in England he was posted to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) at Shoreham-on-Sea

 

Nov 5, 1916

Admitted to the Hillingdon House Convalescent Hospital in Uxbridge

 

Dec 7, 1916

Transferred to the Bearwood Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Wokingham

 

Jan 17, 1917

Discharged to duty with the casualty assembly centre in Hastings

 

Jan 20, 1917

Attached to the GDD (General Discharge Depot) for duty

 

Jan 29, 1917

Attached to the 24th Reserve Battalion in Hastings for duty

 

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes, and attached to General Discharge Depot for duty

 

Apr 16, 1917

Attached to the BCRD (British Columbia Regimental Depot) in Seaford for duty

 

Apr 18, 1917

Returned to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford

 

May 2, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps Base Depot in Sunningdale

 

May 11, 1917

Transferred to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending return to Canada

 

May 12, 1917

Embarked the SS Olympic in Liverpool

 
 

May 21, 1917

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario and TOS (Taken On Strength) Military District No. 2 Headquarters

 

May 30, 1917

Admitted to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Toronto with a diagnosis that reads Neurasthenia and DVH (Diseased Valve of the Heart)

 

Jun 4, 1917

Transferred to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Whitby as an out-patient

 

Jun 8, 1917

Admitted to the Military Convalescent Hospital in Whitby as a full-time patient

 

Sep 11, 1917

Medical exam report in part reads;

“there is a tremor of the tongue on protrusion and of the hands when extended.  The deep reflexes are quite brisk.  He has difficulty in getting to sleep, and wakes frequently during the night.  The memory is poor and the power of concentration only fair.”

 

Sep 14, 1917

Discharged from hospital but remained as an out-patient

 

Oct 31, 1917

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 25 Belmont St., Toronto, Ontario

 
Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 65 Marion St., Toronto, Ontario

 

Aug 30, 1921

The 1921 Canadian Census shows him living at 65 Marion St., Toronto, Ontario with his wife and 1 daughter.  The family was renting a part of the home from his brother, Richard Thompson

 
In 1934 it was reported that he was employed by the Goodyear Tire Company, Lakeshore Blvd., New Toronto

 

Jul 16, 1936

Thomas Thompson embarked the SS Montcalm in Montreal with a large contingent of 21st Battalion veterans

 

 

Shown onboard ship, seated 6th from the left in the middle row

 

Jul 25, 1936

Disembarked in Antwerp, Belgium and proceeded to a billet in France

 

Jul 26, 1936

Attended the unveiling of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France by King Edward VIII, along with 6,200 Canadian veterans and their families.

Before returning to Canada, the group visited many of the battlefields and cemeteries where many of their comrades fell and were buried.

 

Aug 6, 1955

Thomas Thompson passed away while a patient in the Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital, Toronto, Ontario and was buried in the Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.



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