THOMSON, Robert Percy
| Service Number: | 433 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 October 1914, Townsville, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, 20 June 1874 |
| Home Town: | Townsville, Townsville, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Shellal, Sinai Peninsula, Palestine, 17 April 1917, aged 42 years |
| Cemetery: |
Beersheba War Cemetery Beersheba War Cemetery, Beersheba, Israel |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Townsville Cenotaph |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 433, Townsville, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 433, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: '' embarkation_ship: '' embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 16 Dec 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 433, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, HMAT Borda, Brisbane | |
| 9 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 433, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 6 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 433, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli | |
| 10 Sep 1915: | Wounded Corporal, 433, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Shrapnel (wrist) | |
| 1 Jan 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance | |
| 17 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 433, 2nd Light Horse Brigade Field Ambulance, Battles of Gaza , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 433 awm_unit: 2nd Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1917-04-17 |
Diary of FH Smith
In the personal diary of FH Smith on the date of 16 April 1917, Smith writes "Poor old Bob Thomson as game as ever was, got badly hit ...." and he goes on to describe the fatal injuries to him and his horse. Bob Thomson is frequently mentioned in the diary which is digitised and can be found on the Mitchell Library Website by searching Francis Henry Smith. I have located several photographs of his grave which can be found on the Australian War Memorial under photographic collections.
Submitted 18 October 2016 by Judith Smith
Biography contributed by Judith Smith
Recommended for Commendation at Gallipoli (www.awm.gov.au);
"For consistant courage, cooking under heavy shellfire on several occasions with ptractically no cover. On the 7th and 8th of August 1915 during the "Lone Pine" engagement, he cooked for wounded and stretcher bearers near "Browns Dip" with utter disregard for personal safety. He was finally wounded while cooking, some five weeks later. His courage and devotion to duty have been a splendid example to all ranks in his corps."
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