THOMSON, William Campbell
| Service Number: | 399 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Division Cyclist Company |
| Born: | Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 10 September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Cloncurry, Cloncurry, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Brisbane Grammar School, University of Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | University Student |
| Died: | Influenza, Myocarditis, Heartfailure, At Sea aboard 'Clan MacGillvray' off Australian Coast, United Kingdom, 8 May 1916, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Remembered on Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane Grammar School Memorial Library WW1 Honour Board 2, Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, University of Queensland WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4th Divisional Cycle Corps | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 4th Division Cyclist Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Clan McGillivray embarkation_ship_number: A46 public_note: '' | |
| 1 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 4th Division Cyclist Company, HMAT Clan McGillivray, Brisbane | |
| 8 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 399, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 399 awm_unit: 2nd/4th Company Australian Cyclist Corps awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-05-08 |
Help us honour William Campbell Thomson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
William Campbell Thomson was born on 10th September, 1893 at Townsville, Queensland to parents Duncan Campbell Thomson & Sarah Thomson (nee Scott).
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 18th March, 1916 as a 22 year old, single, University Student from Cloncurry, North Queensland.
On 28th March, 1916 Private Thomson was posted to 11th Depot Battalion for recruit training. He was transferred to 2/4th Cyclist Corps from 22nd April, 1916.
Australian Cyclist Corps
The Australian Cycling Corps was formed in Egypt in 1916 as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and fought on the Western Front in France and Belgium during World War I. They were used mainly as despatch riders, while also conducting reconnaissance and patrolling. It was disbanded in 1919.
When the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was reorganised and expanded in Egypt in 1916 following its evacuation from Gallipoli, each of its five infantry divisions was allocated a company of cyclists in accordance with the British New Army establishment adopted at that time. At this time each company had an establishment of a headquarters and six cycle platoons with a total strength of 204 men. These companies were formed in March and April 1916 from volunteers from other AIF units in the Middle East. However, following their arrival in France, they were subsequently reorganised as corps troops, with the 1st and 2nd Cyclist Battalions being formed and attached to the I and II ANZAC Corps respectively in May and July. Meanwhile, a Cyclist Training Company was also formed in England. The 2nd Battalion included two companies of New Zealanders, and was commanded mostly by New Zealand officers. The establishment of each battalion included a headquarters and three companies, each of three platoons with a total of 26 officers and 310 other ranks.
The cyclist battalions were organised like the infantry, and were mainly used as despatch riders…(Wikipedia)
Private William Campbell Thomson, Service number 399, embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Clan McGillivray (A46) on 1st May, 1916 with the 4th Cyclist Company, 2nd Reinforcements.
He died at 5.45 am on 8th May, 1916 at Sea on board HMAT Clan McGillivray (A46) from Influenza, Myocarditis & Heart failure.
[Note: There is no official record of Private Thomson being buried at Sea & on what date in his Service Record file.]
Private William Campbell Thomson is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/s---t.html
Click images to start slideshow.