Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Harry Thomson was born at Norwood, South Australia on the 27th of February 1888, the son of George Thomson and Florence Jeffery.

Harry’s father, George, was a journalist who received his training on the literary staff of 'The Register', in Adelaide. For many years he assisted in reporting the debates in the House of Assembly. In about 1891, George left Adelaide to join the staff of the Melbourne 'Age,' and subsequently worked on the Melbourne 'Daily Telegraph' and the 'Sydney Morning Herald.

Harry’s mother, Florence, died on the 16th of June 1895, of phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis or a similar progressive wasting disease), at the West Terrace home of her father, Mr William H Jeffery, she was 28 years old. At the time of his mother’s death, Harry was seven years of age and George, was working in Sydney.

When George returned to South Australia, he acted as Secretary to the Royal Commission, which enquired into the Beetaloo Waterworks (July 1896). George then went to Western Australia, where he was engaged on the 'West Australian,' and afterwards on the 'Coolgardie Miner’. George passed away on the 20th of March 1899 of consumption, at Coolgardie, Western Australia, aged 35 years. Harry was thus a double orphan at the age of eleven.

Schooling

Harry’s early schooling was undertaken at Unley Public School where he passed his Preliminary Examinations in 1900 and was awarded a public exhibition in December 1901. He then attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide where he passed his Junior Examinations (equal 12th) in 1902, Senior Examinations (equal 15th) in 1903 and Higher Public Examinations (coming fifth in the General Honours List and first in Inorganic Chemistry) in 1904. Harry was a Sergeant in the St Peter’s College Cadets.

Early Career

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father and uncle, Harry was on the literary staff of ‘The Advertiser’ prior to commencing his University studies. He had decided study Law and was articled to the firm, Grundy & Pelley for three years.

Adelaide University

Harry commenced studying law at Adelaide University in 1906. In 1907 he gained first-class passes in both the Law of Property and Constitutional Law and in 1909 the following article details further first-class results. Harry was one of two Stow Prize winners in 1909.

Harry was awarded his LLB in December 1909 and was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship.

More details of Harry’s early life are recorded in the newspaper article (see document).

University Sport

Football
Harry played football for the Adelaide University Football team in the Adelaide and Suburban Association in the 1907 season.

Rifle
Harry was a member of the Adelaide University Rifle Club in 1910.
 
Athletics
Harry competed at the Adelaide University Sports in 1906 coming third in the 120 yards flat, he was third in the Mile Handicap at the Sports in 1908 and a consistent runner at the 1909 Sports.

Oxford University

In June 1910, Harry applied to the Full Court for the return of his matriculation certificate he had filed with his articles instead of a copy. Harry received a farewell at Bricknell's Cafe on the 10th of August with a crowd of law students and practitioners present. He departed for England onboard the Otranto on Friday 12th of August 1910. Harry studied at Balliol College and joined the territorial troops (King Edward’s Horse). He was among the troops who lined the route for the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary on the 22nd of June 1911.

In August 1911 a letter written home to a friend was published in ‘The Register’. The letter gives some details of his life in Oxford, the coronation, his three-week cycling tour on the Continent and his plans for travelling in the holidays, before his second year at Oxford commenced.

Harry was selected to play lacrosse for Oxford against Cambridge on the 6th of March 1912 and in August 1912, he gained his B.A. Honours Jurisprudence Degree, placing in the top seven of 120 candidates.

In June 1913 news arrived in South Australia that Harry was soon to return to the state and before he returned he was awarded the Compatriots’ Club prize.

Pre-War Career

In July 1913, Harry applied for admission to as a practitioner of the Supreme Court of South Australia and was admitted to the Bar on the 27th of July 1913. On the 28th of July 1913 Harry became a partner in the firm “Varley & Evan” joining Hiram Wentworth Varley and Griffith Mostyn Evan as solicitors at 22 Waymouth St, Adelaide. From the 29th of January 1915, the firm was known as “Varley, Evan & Thomson”.

Harry commenced playing lacrosse for the Adelaide University B Grade from July 1913.

On his return to South Australia an interview was published in ‘The Register’.

Harry became president of the Unley School Old Scholars Association in October 1913.

In February 1915, Harry became engaged to Miss Florence Price, the third daughter of the late Hon. Thomas Price and Mrs Price of Hawthorn. Harry played lacrosse for Goodwood in 1915.

World War I

On the 22nd of July 1915, Harry enlisted as a Private at the Mitcham Camp, Adelaide. He was 27 years and 5 months old, 5’ 7¾“, 145 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His next-of-kin was his aunt, Margaret L. Thomson. Harry attended the Non-Commissioned Officer’s School and embarked for active service on the 11th of January 1916.

Harry’s war service is well documented in the typed pages from his Service Record and the newspaper articles (see document). He became a Lieutenant on the 1st of May 1916 and a Captain on the 20th of April 1917. The State Library of South Australia holds Harry’s diary from 1916 and it states that Harry transferred to the 50th Battalion on its formation and he wrote the Battalion song.

Harry was wounded on the 6th of June 1917.

On the 4th of January 1918, Harry was appointed to the role of Staff Captain and awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous service.

On the 2nd of July 1918, Harry transferred to the Education Branch, AIF and was a Deputy Director of the AIF Education Service which aimed “to help each individual soldier in mind, character, and occupation, and by doing so to help the future of Australia after the war”.

On the 1st of January 1919, Harry was promoted to the rank of Major. On the 23rd of January 1919, while still on active service, Major Harry Thomson married Edith Anne Marie Charlotte Le Floch of Quinperle, France, the daughter of Alain Le Floch at the Parish Church, Hersham, Surrey, UK. Harry and his wife returned to Australia on the Kaiser-i-Hind, departing from the UK on the 6th of May 1919 and arriving in Adelaide on the 14th of June 1919. Harry’s appointment with the AIF was terminated on the 6th of August 1919.

Post-War Career and Family Life

Harry returned to the practice of the law with Varley, Evan and Thomson. He was welcomed back to Adelaide by the Johnian Club (a non-sectarian society established in Adelaide on the 29th of August 1913, for the 'study and discussion of literary, scientific and other subjects of general interest').

Harry and Edith holidayed at Lake Victoria in July 1919 and then took a flat at Unley Park.

Harry and Edith’s elder son, Alain Harry Thomson was born at Quambi, South Terrace, Adelaide, on the 28th of March 1920 and a second son, Cedric Jeffery Thomson was born on the 10th of October 1923.

Harry was present at the Adelaide University Sports in 1920 and in September 1923, he became the President of the SA Amateur Athletics Association. In 1923, Harry was also Vice President of the Goodwood Lacrosse Club and a Trustee of St Mark’s College.

In June 1924, Edith took Alain (aged 4) with her on a trip back to France. A newspaper article in August 1925 described Harry as follows: "One time Rhodes scholar Mr Harry Thomson is a lawyer. His hobby is leader writing and his pastime is tennis, while he is a keen critic of the game of football."
“Leader writing” was the writing of articles which would appear on the leader page of a newspaper. Harry wrote many such articles on politics, economic matters, the Olympic Games and other topics for the ‘News’ with the by-line “By Harry Thomson”.

In August 1925, Harry was a judge at the Intercollegiate Boxing match.

In July 1926, Harry and Edith holidayed in Sydney for a fortnight.

In 1928, Harry was described as a past President of the Unley RSL.

After the death of his law practice partner, Mr H. Varley, Harry was appointed a legal assessor on the Adelaide Voluntary Tribunal of Arbitration. In August 1928 Harry became a Vice-President of the SA Law Society and in December 1928, he became a member of the Adelaide University Council.

Sadly, for the family, Edith’s mother, Suzanne Le Floch passed away suddenly in February 1929.

Harry was present at an Old Scholars event at Unley Public School in April 1929.

In August 1930, Harry underwent an operation for appendicitis at Calvary Hospital, North Adelaide and two weeks later he underwent a second operation at the same hospital. By mid-August he was progressing satisfactorily.

In late August 1930, Harry was appointed a King’s Council and in 1931, Harry became President of the SA Law Society (February) and President of the SA Returned Soldiers League (December 1931 to November 1932).

On the 19th of March 1932, Harry and Edith left onboard the ‘Nestor’ on a holiday trip to America and Europe. They were to be away for six months and returned home in mid September 1932.

In March 1933, Harry became the first President of the newly formed Association of Rhodes Scholars in Australia.

Death

On the 18th of October 1933, Harry passed away aged only 45. He had been diagnosed with leukaemia four years before his death and had known that without rapid advances in medical treatment, he was doomed. He left his wife and two sons. Harry was buried at the West Terrace Cemetery.

He left an estate valued for probate at £18,913, subject to deductions for debts and other liabilities. He made a bequest of £60 to be divided among members of the staff of Varley, Evans, Thomson and Buttrose and certain law books to his partners. The remainder of the estate was left for the benefit of his widow and sons.

Many tributes were published in the Adelaide papers and some of them are included in the document.

Legacy

Harry and Edith’s sons were both educated at St Peter’s College, Adelaide.

In World War II, Alain, SN SX2980, was a Warrent Officer, Class 2 in the AIF and was involved in the Middle East and New Guinea campaigns. Cedric, SN 417904, was a Flying Officer in the RAAF in WWII, he was involved in the bombing of Caen and in D Day, he was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government.

Alain became engaged to Joan Margaret Farquhar, the younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Farquhar of Glen Osmond in October 1946. The couple had a daughter born in October 1948 and a second daughter (Diana Margaret) born on 15 July 1951. Alain died on 9 September 2007 and was cremated at Centennial Park, Adelaide.

Cedric followed his father into the law. He was articled to his father’s old firm and gained his LLB from Adelaide University in 1951. Cedric married Miss Rosemary Sandford Morgan, of Crafers, the daughter of Dr. Elma Sandford Morgan and the late Major H. Morgan. The couple lived at Unley Park and had at least two children (daughters, born on 7th March 1953 and 30 August 1954). Cedric died on the 16th of March 2005 and his ashes are interred at Centennial Park, his last abode was a Melrose Park, SA.

Harry’s widow, Edith, died 24 April 1956 and her ashes were interred at Centennial Park, her last abode was at Unley Park, Adelaide, SA.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.

As Assistant Staff Captain, and later as Staff Captain, his work has been consistently good during the period 22nd September 1917 to 24 February 1918. Thoroughly reliable, possessing good judgement, tactful and conscientious, he has been of great assistance to the Brigade. He holds the respect of all ranks.