Dec 21, 1895

Born in Hastings, Ontario to Rev. David and Janet (nee MacMillan) Thomson

Feb 29, 1916

Signed Officer’s Declaration into the 93^rd Battalion CEF in Peterborough, Ontario

Ø  Rank Lieutenant

Ø  Next of kin given as Rev. David Anderson Thomson, father, Hastings, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Student

Ø  Previous military experience given as 40^th Regiment for 5 years as a Cadet Instructor

Ø  Religion given as Presbyterian

Initial training was done in Peterborough, Ontario

May 29, 1916

The battalion boarded a train and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario to continue training at the Barriefield Camp

Jul 15, 1916

Embarked the Empress of Britain in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jul 25, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to the Otterpool Camp

Promoted to the rank of Captain

Aug 19, 1916

Qualified 2^nd Class at the Officer’s Course at the Canadian School of Musketry

Sep 20, 1916

Transferred to the General List and remained attached to the 93^rd Battalion

Oct 6, 1916

Attached to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

Nov 1, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Command Depot in Shoreham

Jan 4, 1917

Attached to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the formation, the battalion moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front line

Feb 20, 1917

Transferred to the 3^rd Canadian Command Depot

May 21, 1917

Ceased to be attached and transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion

Jun 15, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Lieutenant

Jul 23, 1917

Attached to the Officer’s Training Battalion in Seaford

Aug 21, 1917

Rejoined the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Aug 24, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Aug 26, 1917

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength of the 21^st Battalion

Aug 30, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Lieutenant Thomson joined the 21^st Battalion resting in Villers au Bois, France and posted to “A” Company

Oct 26, 1917

Admitted to the No. 4 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin), a fever without a known cause.  This is sometimes referred to as Trench Fever.  He was transferred the same day to the No. 37 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station).

Oct 28, 1917

Transferred via the No. 16 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 2 Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Rouen, France

Nov 3, 1917

Invalided to England and admitted to the 3^rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford and the diagnosis was changed to read Trench Fever

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Dec 4, 1917

Discharged from hospital and granted sick leave to Canada until February 4, 1918

Dec 23, 1917

Embarked the SS Metagama in Liverpool at his own expense

Jan 5, 1918

Disembarked in Saint John, New Brunswick

Feb 4, 1918

Granted and extension to his leave

Mar 24, 1918

Struck Off Strength of the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot on being retained in Canada for medical treatment

Apr 18, 1918

Admitted to Queen’s Military Hospital in Kingston

Jul 2, 1918

Posted to Military District No. 3 Casualty Company in Kingston

Jul 6, 1918

Attached to the Eastern Ontario 2^nd Regimental Depot Battalion in Ottawa, Ontario

Sep 1, 1918

Attached to Military District No. 3 District Depot Headquarters for duty with the administrative Staff, Hospital Section as the Sir Sandford Fleming Hospital Representative in Ottawa

Sep 28, 1918

Admitted to the CCGP (Carleton County General Protestant) Hospital in Ottawa with a diagnosis that reads Influenza

Oct 11, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jul 2, 1919

Admitted to the Sir Sandford Flemming Hospital in Ottawa with a diagnosis that reads Trench Fever

Jul 14, 1919

Discharged to duty from hospital

Granted 7 days sick leave

Sep 26, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lieutenant

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Following his discharge, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Hastings, Northumberland County, Ontario

In 1923 he graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Ontario as a solicitor.

Jun 25, 1924

Married to Greeta Brophy Whitehead in Toronto, Ontario

In 1930 he settled on a dairy farm near Pickering, Ontario and opened his own law practice in 1935.

In 1944 he was appointed as Ontario Solicitor for the Veteran’s Land Act.

Jun 27, 1949

Elected to the Canadian House of Commons as a Liberal member of the House.  He later resigned that seat in order to become leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. 

May 31, 1952

He resigned as Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party

Apr 27, 1963

Walter Cunningham Thomson died while a patient of a Toronto hospital of a heart attack and was buried in the Erskine Cemetery, Dunbarton, Ontario