Surgeon-Major Edward Charles Thompson, MB, FRSCI, DL
Edward Charles Thompson of Camowen Hill, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, was born in Omagh in 1851, son of Dr Henry Thompson and Anne Henrietta (nee Blake). He graduated as a doctor in 1871 and became a surgeon in 1885. He was Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Tyrone Fusiliers around the 1870s.
In 1885 he succeeded his father as surgeon to the County Tyrone Hospital, a position he held for almost fifty years.
On 21 December 1900 he was elected as member for the seat of North Monaghan, representing the Nationalist Party. He held the seat until 1906.
On 16 April 1904 Thompson was appointed to the post of Surgeon-Major to the North of Ireland Imperial Yeomanry, transferring to its successor, the North Irish Horse, in July 1908. He left the regiment in early 1909.
At the outbreak of war he volunteered his services through the British Red Cross Society and Order of St John, travelling to France on 23 September 1914. From October 1915 to March 1916 he was commandant of a Belgian Field Hospital (see Thompson’s account below).
Dr Thompson was appointed High Sheriff of Tyrone County on 29 December 1924. He died at his residence in East Sheen, Surrey, 20 January 1933, aged 83.
The British Medical Journal, 29 April 1916
The British Medical Journal, 11 February 1933
Image of Dr Thompson as MP for North Monaghan, July 1902 by Sir (John) Benjamin Stone, platinum print, 8 in. x 6 1/8 in. (202 mm x 157 mm) image size, given by House of Commons Library, 1974, Photographs Collection, National Portrait Gallery (NPG x35219).