Thomas Colton Thompson MM

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

55065

Unit at enlistment:

19th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Awards or decorations:

Military Medal

Commemorated at:

St. John's Anglican Church

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Lancashire

Birth city:

Lancaster

Address at enlistment:

Shellards Lane, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

Shellards Lane, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Plasterer

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Gallantry medals:

Yes

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

London Gazette: 29854
Date: December 9, 1916
Honour or Award: Military Medal
Authority: R.O. 789, Byng, October 1, 1916
Name: Thomas Colton Thompson(55065)
Unit: 19th Battalion

Details: For gallantry and devotion to duty. Employed as a stretcher bearer he dressed the wounded under heavy fire and while performing this task he was several times buried by shells.

BX October 26, 1916

Military Medal Awarded to Pte. Thomas Colton Thompson – Local Man with Stretcher-Bearers of 19th Battalion Receives Recognition.

That her husband had been awarded the Military Medal was the proud news received by Mrs. Thomas C. Thompson, Shellard’s Lane, in a letter from her hero husband. The news came in a letter from him, but he gave no indication of the act which had won him the high honor. As he is a stretcher bearer in the 19th Battalion, it is likely that the act was one of rescue under most trying conditions, but like all true soldiers, he is very reticent as to the deeds. Pte. Thompson was a plasterer here before donning the khaki. In his letter he said, in part:

October 9, 1916
France

Just a line to say that I am in the land of the living and doing fine. I have some real good news for you this time, and I am sure you will be proud of my honors. I have been awarded the Military Medal for work done on the field. I can assure you I feel pleased as it will be something for our children to look to in years to come.

I might say the Hun is getting the worst of it just now. We don’t allow him a minute’s peace. He has no show with us. If he has an aeroplane up we are right after him and he has to beat it for his life and if he puts up a balloon our aeroplanes swoop down on it like mighty hawks and set fire to it. We had another drive at him since Bob (his brother who is wounded and in hospital in England) left us and he won’t stop to fight. The Hun beats it but comes back with artillery and he does lambaste us for fair. However, we lost very few men this trip. The weather here is very unsettled. We are having plenty of fair just now and it does make the trenches and roads in fearful state. I was really thankful when we got out of the trenches this time, so I felt all in. I have not the slightest idea when the war will end, but I don’t think it will be this winter.

BX June 11, 1959

Thomas Colton Thompson

Thomas C. Thompson of 120 Terrace Hill Street, died Wednesday in St. Thomas in his 82nd year. He was born in England and was a resident of this district since 1906. He was a plasterer by trade. A veteran of the First World War, he served overseas with the 19th Battalion as a stretcher bearer. He was awarded the military medal for bravery on the field, and was credited while attending the wounded and depleting a German snipers’ nest, consisting of 13 single handed. He was a member of the Canadian Legion, Branch 90. Surviving are two sons, Frank of Brantford, Ernest of Chicago; one daughter, Mrs. E.J. (Ida) Medhurst of Brantford; one sister, Mrs. C.E. (Margaret) Ellis of Vancouver; five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His first wife, the former Phoebe Wall, predeceased him in 1922, and his second wife, the former Cillia Schultz, predeceased him in 1950. Mr. Thompson is resting at the Hill and Robinson Funeral Home until Saturday for service in the chapel at 4 p.m. Interment will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.

BX June 13, 1959

Thomas Colton Thompson

Rev. Howard Smith, padre of the Canadian Legion, officiated at the funeral of Thomas C. Thompson Saturday afternoon, at the Hill and Robinson Chapel. Relatives from city and out of town points attended the service. There were many floral tributes. Honorary pallbearers were Harry Perrin, Robert Kennedy, William Bowden and Reginald D. Kerr. Pallbearers were Fred Casey, Robert Vary, James Turner, Richard Mock, John Hounan and Frank Holden, all members of Branch 90 Canadian Legion. Dave Monkman was in charge of the Legion pallbearers. Interment was in Mount Hope Cemetery.