Name
Sydney J Thompson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/10/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
304361
London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
1st/5th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 9 D.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Potters Bar memorials
Pre War
Sydney John Thomson was born in Bermondsey in 1896 to Joseph Gilbert Thomson, Metropolitan Police Sergeant, and Clara Beatrice (nee Saunders). On the 1901 Census the Family of parents, Sydney were living at 6, Fallsbrook Road, Streatham, also present was Sydney Saunders, brother in law to Joseph. Sydney was baptised on 8 Apr 1904, with his brother Harold. at St Pauls, Streatham.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Sydney and Harold George (born 1903) were living at the Police Station, East Road, New Barnet.
Wartime Service
No service Record was found for Sydney. He enlisted in 1st/5th (City of London) Battalion, the London Regiment, London Rifle Brigade as Private 2478 sometime around Jul/Aug 1915. 1/5th Battalion became part of 56 (1st London) Division in Feb 1916 and took part in the Diversion Attack at Gommecourt on 1 Jul 1916 and suffered heavy casualties. Sydney may have been promoted to Serjeant at this time.
The Battalion was transferred to the Somme to take in some of the later Battles of the Somme namely: Ginchy (9 Sep), Flers-Courcelette (15-22 Sep), Morval (23-27 Sep), and Transloy Ridges (1-18 Oct). It was during this last Battle the Sydney was reported killed in action on 8 Oct 1916.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. He was posthumously renumbered as 304361 in the Territorial Force in early 1917.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £12 and arrears of £7 1s 7d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
