Photo: Unknown Source

Newcastle Chronicle Saturday 03/11/1917

Tyne Cot Memorial

Tyne Cot Memorial: Pauline Priano

Medal Index Card

Robert Thompson was born at Main Street, Warkworth on the 26th June 1896, the son of Arthur Thompson, [Tax Collector and House Agent Auctioneer, born 1865], and Mary Jane Thompson, [nee Burton]. They were married in 1896, Robert was the eldest of 4 children, he had twin sisters Mary Isabella, and Charlotte born in 1900.

In 1901 the family were residing at Warkworth, still in Main Street with mother-in-law, Isabella Burton who was a widow age 64.

By 1911, Charlotte, one of the twins had died, and the fourth child Arthur Thompson, born Warkworth, 1903, had joined the family.

Robert was educated at the Duke's School at Alnwick.

He enlisted in to the King's Royal Regiment in January 1916, service number R/19240, and after being promoted to a Corporal, received a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, February 1917, and was posted to the 1/7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers on the 15th February 1917. He went to the front on the 1st May 1916.

He was awarded the Military Cross for:

Second Lieutenant Robert Thompson, Northumberland Fusiliers. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst on patrol. He led his small party with exceptional skill and good judgement to the attack on an enemy strong point, which he successfully bombed and eventually withdrew without casualties. The fine leadership which he displayed was all the more praiseworthy owing to the fact that he had been misinformed in the first instance as to his objective, that he encountered a strong hostile patrol on the way which he most skilfully avoided, and finally, that our mortars opened fire upon the strong point just as he was about to commence his own attack. He proved equal, how-ever, to coping with the difficulties and delay caused by these incidents, and handled his men throughout with remarkable ability and determination.

Robert wrote letters to his parents, here is an extract, date unknown, from one of them:-

Don't worry! I will [a]quit myself like a man and do as I have done before, play the game to the last, and if I come through, I come through an honour to the regiment and yourselves.

In my sight there are only two ways – do and die; and if I do, mark my words, I do it creditably, and if I die, I die nobly. More than that I cannot say.

He died on the 26th October 1917.

By 1917, the family had moved to Castle Street in Warkworth.

Morpeth Herald 23/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:

Second-Lieut. Robert Thompson, N.F., was killed in action on October 26th.

Only a few weeks ago he was made the recipient of the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while on patrol. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Thompson, of Warkworth.

His Colonel later wrote of him:-

He was a fine young man, You, Warkworth and the Dukes School have every reason to be proud of him. He won the M.C., more quickly after coming out than any officer had ............. He had extraordinary nerve nothing seemed to daunt him.

The Northumberland Gazette 24/11/1917 reported:-

2nd Lieut. Robert Thompson was the eldest son of Mr Arthur Thompson, of Castle Street, Warkworth. He was educated at the Duke's School, Alnwick and in January, 1916, joined the K.R.R.S, "Yeomanry Battalion" under Lord Faversham. He went to the front 1st May 1916, and after promotion in the ranks was given a commission in the field, being gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers. He saw much fighting and was awarded the Military Cross in July, for his ability and daring. He was killed in action on the 26th October, 1917, in the 21st year of his age. The sympathy of all ranks goes out to his father.

The Northumberland Gazette 03/08/1918.

News has come from France to his parents Mr and Mrs Arthur Thompson of Warkworth giving details of how this gallant young officer met his death. In the late Lieutenant Thompson we have one whose example of courage and bravery was never wanting at any period in his Army Career. When the call for volunteers was so great, he enlisted in the Yeoman Battalion of the King's Royal Regiment under the command of Lord Faversham, in January 1916. He was drafted to France in May of the same year, and his ability soon gained him rapid promotion. In February of this year, he was given a commission in he field, and was gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers with which he saw much fighting. He was awarded the Military Cross in July.

That he was a favourite with all ranks will be shown by a letter of Private C. Elliott of Warkworth to Mr & Mrs Thompson. He says:-

Robert was a good officer and soldier and was respected by all who had dealings with him. He died like the true British soldier which he was, and you have the consolation in knowing that his death was instantaneous.

Robert Thompson is remembered at Alnwick on A11.16 and in A11.59, also at Warkworth on W16.01, W16.03 and W16.10

There is also a printed an 'In Memoriam leaflet' [publication unknown] which also has a poem dedicated to him.

Nrthumberland Fusiliers in WW1 History
1/7th Northumberland Fusiliers War Diary
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Thompson