Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Note- his actual name was Robert Jensen Thomson and he went through life commonly known as Jensen Thomson.

Robert Jensen Thompson served in both the South African (Boer) War and WW1. First service was as a Private S.N. 32, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, Boer War. Second service was as a Lieutenant, 5th Worcester Regiment, British Army, WW1.

When he first enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private R. J. Thomson, single, George St, Brisbane. In the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 2 p. 108, it is noted his contact address was Thomson Bros., George Street, Brisbane, which was a booksellers business run by himself and his two brothers, John and Richard.

He served the full tour of the 1st QMI returning to Australia with the contingent aboard S.S. Orient. The service paybooks note that he furloughed (disembarked) in Melbourne where his mother and other family were living eventually arriving in Brisbane on 7 Feb 1901 with official discharge from 23 Jan 1901.

When WW1 broke out in 1914 he paid his passage to England where he enlisted in the 5th Worcester Regiment and went on to serve in France, Mesopotamia and India. Its reported that his service seen him honoured with a Mention in Despatches.

Robert Jensen Thomson was born on 4 Nov 1869 at Liverpool, England, a son to bookseller William Thomson and Jane Thomson (nee Rae). His father had booked to emigrate with his wife and 12 children to Australia but passed days before sailing. However, his mother and his siblings emigrated as planned to settle initially in Victoria.

He was living in Wagga Wagga, NSW when he passed with a detailed obituary published in the local newspaper as transcribed below.

Obituary Lieut. R. J. Thomson- The Daily Advertiser, 10 Sep 1943, p. 2.

The death occurred in Lewisham Hospital, Wagga, yesterday morning of Lieut. Robert Jensen Thomson, of "Sackville," Wagga, who had been a patient of the hospital for more than two months. He was a brother of the late Mrs. Lyons of "Sackville," where he resided off and on for a number of years. Lieut. Thomson spent a most interesting life, filled with incidents and experiences in all parts of the world. He was a great traveller and in the course of years had been round the world several times. He was a member of a Liverpool family, where he was born and where his father was in business as a bookseller. The family of 12 had booked their passages for Australia, when unfortunately a few days before the date of sailing the father was taken ill and died. Mrs. Thompson and children came out to Australia where her brother-in-law had already settled in Victoria. Before the family left England one of the daughters had married Captain Lyons and they later came to Australia and settled at "Sackville," Wagga. As a youth Robert Jensen Thomson had learned the trade of a wheelwright and coachbuilder, but on the outbreak of the Boer War he enlisted and went through the South African campaign. His first visit to the Wagga district was on the occasion of his coming here to assist Captain Lyons to settle on the "Sackville" property. He helped to excavate the first dam at Forest Hill and to build the first line of fencing on "Sackville." He was then a young man of 23 years. When the Great War of 1914-1918 broke out Robert Jensen Thomson paid his passage to England and enlisted in the 5th Worcestershires with whom he fought through the Great War in France, Messopotamia and India. On the termination of the war he went to Nigeria and engaged in tin mining for about 10 years, afterwards returning to Australia and to "Sackville." Before the War of 1914 he was in business with his brother as Thomson Bros., Booksellers, of Brisbane. He had the roving spirit and travelled to many lands. Many exciting experiences came to him in Nigeria and in Africa, but one of his unforgettable experiences was on the occasion he rounded Cape Horn in a 500-ton barque, his brother, Captain Maitland Thomson, being in charge of one of his cousin's line of boats. Robert Jensen Thomson signed on as ship's carpenter. He often declared he would not take on again for thousands of pounds.

Those who met Lieut. Thomson in this district during his residence at "Sackville," were charmed by his lack of affection and were also greatly attracted by his quiet recital of many experiences of his life. He was a fine gun shot and held many trophies of big game taken with his gun in other parts of the world. He loved a day in the field quail shooting, and those who enjoyed the privelege of shooting with him found him not only a good shot but a fine companion.

The funeral will take place this afternoon, the cortege moving from St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church after a service commencing at 2 o'clock.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 454; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 2 p. 108; Saint Andrew's Uniting Church Heritage Committee Project- Stories From The Honour Boards: Lives Links and Legacy- Lieutenant Robert Jensen Thomson MID).