Photo : Carole Thompson with Thanks

NER Roll of Honour 1919

French Postcard the road to Lihons

Medal Index Card for Private Thompson

The North Eastern Railway Memorial

John Henry Thompson was born in April 1887, [2nd Quarter of the year], at 7 Moorgate Street, Sunderland. The youngest son of five children, of Edward Thompson and his wife Elizabeth.

The children were Ralph born 1873, Thomas born 1875, Richard born 1877, Maria born 1881 and John born in 1887, all born in Sunderland.

John Henry worked for the North Eastern Railway at South Dock as a sheetman.

He married at Monkwearmouth Church of England Church on the 21st August 1909, Charlotte Hedley, and they had two children, Edward Henry Thompson, born on the 21st July 1910 and Thomas Hedley Thompson on the 2nd June 1916.

In 1911, the family were residing at 22 Warren Street, Sunderland. By 1914 they had moved to 18 Barrack Street, East End, Sunderland.

John attested at Sunderland, for the duration of the war, on the 1st December 1915, he was 5 feet [1.524m] tall, weighed 134 lbs [60.781kg] and was aged 28 years and 7 months.

His medical inspection carried out on the 28th May 1917 had his declared age now as 30 years and 2 months. This was before he was posted overseas on the 28th November 1917, to the 1/6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Previously he was with the 3rd (Reserve), Battalion Durham Light Infantry at South Shields.

1/6th Battalion in August 1914, were at Bishop Auckland. Part of DLI Brigade, Northumbrian Division. Moved to Boldon Colliery in early August, then Ravensworth Park. Was at Newcastle by October. On the 17th April 1915, they were landed at Boulogne. On the 14th May 1915, they became part of the 151st Brigade in 50th (Northumbrian) Division. On the 3rd June 1915, after taking heavy casualties, 1/6th and 1/8th Battalions merged to form 6/8th Battalion. Resumed original identity on the 11th August 1915. On the 15th July 1918, the battalion was reduced to cadre strength and transferred to Lines of Communication.

The 16th August 1918, they were transferred to the 117th Brigade in 39th Division. On the 6th November 1918, they were disbanded in France.

John was reported missing between the 26th and 29th March 1918, and was struck off by a War Office letter dated 31st June 1918.

The 1/6th Battalion War Diary reads as follows:- "Early on the following morning, the 24th March, orders were received to withdraw the Battalion to Foucaucourt. The Companies were therefore assembled on the road and marched back by the main Amiens-Peronne road to an old prisoners of war camp near Foucaucourt village. Further orders awaited them there to be ready to move up again, and in about two hours they were again marching eastwards. About 8 p.m. they were again in position, in reserve, in a line north-east of Estrées. The next morning the Battalion was hurriedly assembled and moved to Genermont, south of the main road, coming under the orders of the General Commanding the 8th Division. The situation here appeared to be very serious, as the enemy was advancing rapidly. Without any very definite orders the Battalion moved in artillery formation towards Marchelepot, but before reaching it the 8th Division, who were holding the line, had retired to the railway behind the village. Gaps along the line of the railway were accordingly filled by 'W' and 'Z' Companies, but it soon became necessary to put in 'Y' Company also. No further developments occurred till about 5 p.m., when 'Y' Company on the right found that the 24th Division on their right was withdrawing to Chaulnes ridge. A defensive flank was formed, and 'X' Company moved to the north-east of Hyencourt to deliver a counter-attack if necessary. For a couple of hours the prospect looked very black, but the enemy did not press his advantage, and about 7 p.m. orders were received to withdraw the Battalion to a line of old trenches south-east of Pressoire. Here a quiet night was spent, with only a few casualties from shell fire. About 9 a.m. the next day the enemy renewed his attacks and a hurried withdrawal of the whole of the 8th Division was ordered. The instructions which reached the Battalion were somewhat confused, but along with the Battalions of the 24th Infantry Brigade they moved from the trenches in artillery formation, and passing through the ruins of Lihons—which was under observation, and consequently was heavily shelled as the men passed through it—continued the withdrawal almost to Rosières. About a mile south-east of that village a line was formed, but no further attack took place. In this position the Battalion had the 2nd Northants on its left and a Labour Battalion on its right".

John was found dead [shot wound in the abdomen] at the town of Lihous, with an assumed date of death between the 26th March and 9th April 1918.

His body was found by the Germans who supplied a list of War Dead and included a description of his wound and where he was buried approx, 200 metres in a garden at Lihons. His disc was sent to the Central office. This official report was accepted as evidence of John's death in action.

This letter was dated 16th November 1918.

The NER Railway Magazine for 1919, carried a small report on him reading as follows:- J. H. Thompson. Durham Light Infantry (casual Sheetman), South Dock), who was reported missing on March 26th 1918, is now presumed to have died of wounds.

John's widow Charlotte was awarded a pension of 24s and 6d, she also remarried after the war to a Mr Johnson and were residing then at 10, North Moor Street, Sunderland. She received her husband's war medals [British War Medal and Victory Medal] on the 24th November 1921.

John Henry's parents had passed away by 1919, as well as his sister.

He is remembered at Sunderland in S140.048 part 2, page 16, and the Railway Memorial at York

The North Eastern Railway Memorial
Durham Light Infantry in WW1
1/6th Battalion War Diary
The CWGC entry for Private Thompson