The AIF Project

Edward James THOMPSON

Regimental number3638
Place of birthBallywattick, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
Address17 Peele Street, Collingwood, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation18
Height5' 6"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs Florence B Thompson, 17 Peel Street, Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed for 6 years in the Citizen Military Forces.
Enlistment date4 October 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll3 January 1916
Place of enlistmentBroadmeadows, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name24th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/41/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A19 Afric on 5 January 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll60th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 4 August 1917
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsV.C. Corner (Panel No 22), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
171
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James and Florence THOMPSON
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength, 58th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 23 February 1916. Transferred to 60th Bn, 15 March 1916. Found guilty, 17 June 1916, of using 'insulting words' to an NCO: awarded forfeiture of 7 days' pay.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported missing in action, Fromelles, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Note, Red Cross File No 2730303: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-1019.'

Base Records, Melbourne, wrote to Mrs Thompson, 18 July 1921, seeking any information that might help identify his remains, were they to be found. She replied that she could not help since the last letter she had received from her son had been from Egypt.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, THOMPSON Edward James
Red Cross File No 2730303
Robert Thompson, 'Ballymoney Heroes 1914-1918' (self published, 1999), p. 120

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