Photo: Geordie at War Project

Colin Boyd has provided the following:

Sydney was born in 1895 and was the son of brass finisher Thomas Thompson and his wife Janet of 18, Whitehall Road, Gateshead (Later 127, Prince Consort Road). He was educated at the Shipcote Boys School from where he secured his first job as a shipping clerk. Sydney enlisted in the 19th (2nd Public Schools) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers with which unit he went to France for the first time on 14th November 1915 with the rank of Lance Corporal. In early 1916 the Public Schools Battalion were brought back from France and effectively became Officer Cadet units. Sydney was gazetted to the Royal Flying Corps via the special list on 26th September 1916. He eventually qualified as a pilot but was not sent to France until 21st August 1917 - the very day that he was shot down and reported as "missing in action". Taken prisoner he would not be repatriated until 17th December 1918. Tragically Sydney died in the 1st Northern General Hospital on 26th January 1919. No doubt in a weakened state following his incarceration he fell victim to the influenza pandemic raging around the world at this time.

Information from "Under the guns of the Kaiser's Aces" by Norman Franks and Hal Giblin

The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Thompson