Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Isaac Thompson was born in St John's Chapel in 1888 in the registration district of Weardale. His father was John Thomson born in St John's Chapel, County Durham, England in 1865. Records show his mother Ann Emerson, known as Annie, was born in 1867.

Isaac had a sister and two brothers. His elder sister, Saline, was born in 1886 and died in 1918. Wilfred was born in 1890 and died in 1901. The youngest brother John was born in 1901 and lived until he was 65, He died in 1966.
Annie had a tough time during the time of WW1; she lost a husband, daughter and a son all within 2 years.

Isaac appears to have missed the 1911 census as there is no trace of him.
Isaac decided to emigrate to Australia and on the 8th November 1912 he boarded the "Orontes" a ship of the Orient line, sailing from London to Sydney. The ship carried a total of 586 passengers and the ship's Captain was Walter Cox.

On arrival in Australia we believed that Isaac settled in Corrimal a northern suburb of the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. He lived there until his enlistment on the 3rd Feb 1915 into A Company, 18th Battalion of the 5th Infantry Brigade. His regimental number was 373. His enlistment paper show that his next of kin as his parents, still living in St John's Chapel. He gave his profession as a coal miner.

On the 25th June 1915 Isaac embarked for Gallipoli. Soon after his arrival Isaac was wounded in action and transferred to the hospital ship Formosa for treatment to gunshot wounds to the left arm and leg. He was discharged and returned to duty on the 17th Oct 1915. He returned to hospital on the 30th October 1915 suffering with jaundice. On the 14th November, and now fit for duty, he returned to his unit.

He transferred to the Machine Corps on the 29th of July 1916. On the night of the 28th July 1916 Isaac rescued a wounded comrade from “no man's land”, although wounded during the rescue he returned to his gun and refused to leave it until he was ordered to do so.

On the 18th September 1916 Isaac was mentioned in despatches for “Conspicuous Gallantry and Devotion to Duty“as a result of the above.
Isaac now gained promotion and was promoted to Corporal on the 12th August 1916 and shortly after on the 14th October 1916 he was promoted to substantive Sergeant, a rapid rise in rank that reflected his abilities.
On the 8th November 1916, Isaac was awarded the Military Medal (MM). The announcement of his award appeared in The London Gazette on the 9th of December 1916.

Isaac was again wounded in action on the 24th February 1917 he suffered gunshot wounds to the thigh and was admitted to 1 Australian General Hospital in Rouen, France. Gangrene developed and Isaac died on the 27th February 1917. He is buried in the St Sever Cemetery extension in Rouen, France.

His death is recorded on the Memorial at St John's Chapel and the Australian National War Memorial in Canberra, His name is on panel 179 in the Commonwealth Area of the Memorial. He is also recorded in Villers–Bretonneux Australian National Memorial, located near the commune of Villers-Bretonneux.