Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-Ralph Thompson born at Dipton, County Durham was the youngest of his siblings. His parents were both from County Durham, William Mathew Thompson born at Kyo and baptised at Lanchester October 9th 1840 married at Durham in 1867 to Hannah Jennings born 1848 at Collierley. They settled at Dipton where William was employed as a coal miner and by 1883 had 6 children Frances 1868, William Jnr 1870, Hannah Jane 1875, Margaret Ann 1878, Thomasina 1880 and Ralph 1883. By 1891 they had transferred to 36, Annfield Place, Pontop, William Snr and William Jnr (21) were both employed at the colliery as coal miners. Hannah Thompson nee Jennings died in 1902 aged 54 years, one by one Ralph’s sibling left home, by 1911 only he (28) and his father were living together, he was now employed at South Pontop Colliery as a rolleyway-man below ground as was his father as a shifter.

On the outbreak of war Ralph was living at 47, Annfield Place, Annfield Plain but enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, November 4th 1914. Posted to the Durham Light Infantry he joined his regiment at their barracks and transferred to the 17th (Reserve) Battalion as Private 21333 the following day. The new recruits arrived at Barnard Castle from the Depot at Newcastle taking over the 4th D.L.I.’s old camp at Deerbolt and began training under the command of Colonel Gordon Caulfield DSO and ex-officer of the Indian Army who had been brought out of retirement when war was declared along with many other experienced officers to train men for overseas service.

August 23rd 1915 Private Thompson departed to France with his regiment as part of the British Expeditionary Force, once at the Infantry Base Depot he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, 18th Brigade, 6th Division, which had suffered the loss of 1,500 men as well as 50 officers killed, wounded or missing on the Ypres salient, Belgium, at Armentieres and the Hooge. The Battalion spent the winter in the mud filled trenches of the salient and moved south in late July 1916 to join the fighting on the Somme, however, they did not take part in any major battles until the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 16th-22nd 1916.

Private 21333 Ralph Thompson Durham Light Infantry was killed in action on the opening day of battle, September 16th 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,337 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme before March 20th 1918 and who have no known grave. Private Thompson was 34 years of age and single.

Dependant documents completed by William Thompson in 1919 state that it was not known if William Matthew Thompson was living or dead. Ralph had made a will nominating his brother William as his sole beneficiary in the event of his death, he received all monies due to his brother, processions and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to his home address of 80, Collingwood Road, High Spen, County Durham.

It is possible William Matthew Thompson died 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar)1928 aged 87 years registered in the district of Lanchester, County Durham.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Ralph Thompson is remembered at Greencroft on G54.01 and at Annfield Plain on A38.01

He is not remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance

The CWGC entry for Private Thompson