In memoriam
Private William Thomson
William Thomson, a 26 year-old farmer, enlisted with the North Irish Horse at Ballymoney on 13 December 1915 (Service No.2037). Born at Conagher, Ballymoney, he was the son of James and Martha Thomson and brother of James, Mary, Annie, Maude and Gretta. He embarked for France on 3 August 1916 and was posted to the 2nd Regiment North Irish Horse. Promoted to Lance Corporal in June 1916, he reverted to Private at his own request in May 1917. In September 1917 he was transferred to the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers (Service No.41407) when the 2nd Regiment was dismounted and absorbed into that battalion. Thomson was seriously wounded on 4 December 1917 close to Equancourt during the Battle of Cambrai. He died from his wounds two days later. Buried at Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme, France, grave VI.D.13. The gravestone inscription reads:
41407 PRIVATE
W. THOMSON
ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS
6TH DECEMBER 1917
The following personal possessions werereturned to his family: letters, photos, a pipe, two religious medallions, two religious books, a wallet, cards, a wrist watch guard, scissors, a pouch, two pencils, a cap badge, titles, a brooch, a diary, a notebook and a coin.
Thomson's memorial plaque is shown below. (The Memorial Plaque, otherwise known as the 'Dead Man's Penny', was a 12-centimetre disk cast in bronze gunmetal and cast with the individual serviceman's name. It was sent, together with a parchment scroll and a message of condolence from the King, to the next-of-kin of British and Dominion casualties of the War. Approximately 1,150,000 were issued.)
Image of Thomson's grave kindly provided by Richard Evans. See his website Nelson, Glamorgan and the Great War http://www.nelson-ww1-memorial.org.uk. Image of William Thomson from Ballymoney Heroes 1914-1918, by Robert Thompson. Image of Memorial Plaque Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy.