Oct 3, 1884

Born in Chatham, Kent, England to James and Caroline (nee Phillips) Thomson

Apr 26, 1915

Attested into the 38^th Battalion CEF in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Number 410851

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Caroline Thomson, 1 Beacon Hill, London, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Solicitor, Supreme Court, England

Ø  Previous military experience given as 6 weeks in the Victoria and St. George Rifles in England

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

May 15, 1915

SOS (Struck Off Strength) on being appointed to a Commission as a Lieutenant in the Governor General’s Foot Guard in Ottawa

Oct 8, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion CEF in the Barriefield Camp, Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Attested with the rank of Lieutenant

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Caroline Thomson, c/o Messrs. Cunningham & Co. Attys., 36 Shaftesbury Ave., London, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Solicitor, Supreme Court, England and Wales

Ø  Previous military experience given as Governor General’s Foot Guard, Ottawa

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Assigned to the battalion’s 2^nd Reinforcing Draft

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

Nov 13, 1915

The 2nd Reinforcing Draft embarked the SS Missanabie in Montreal, Quebec

Nov 23, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and the draft proceeded to the West Sandling Camp where the men were absorbed into the 39th Reserve Battalion to continue training

Mar 6, 1916

Attended the 7^th Officer’s course

Mar 31, 1916

Posted to the Officer’s General List and attached to the 39^th Battalion as a supernumerary officer

May 5, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

May 6, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 63 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

May 8, 1916

Granted leave

 
This leave was extended to May 24, 1916 for dental reasons

Jul 10, 1916

Proceeded on Grenade Course at the Second Army Grenade School, Terdeghem, France

 Second Division Routine Order

Jul 19, 1916

While in the front line trenches near Voormezeele, Belgium, Lieutenant John Leslie Thomson was killed in action.  The war diary reports the front to be very quiet with “1 officer killed, 1 OR died of wounds and 3 ORs wounded”.

 
The United Kingdom Law Society Gazette states that he was shot by a sniper, but then states that “he seems to have survived”.

 
Lieutenant Thomson was buried in the Ridgewood Cemetery, Dickebusch, Belgium

 
Following the war, the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny shown below), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his mother, Mrs. Caroline Thomson, 15 Beacon Hill, London, England