Second Lieutenant

John Ernest Thompson

Conflict: 
WW1
Additional Information: 

Son of Samuel and Rebecca Thompson, of Dunedin, New Zealand.

References:
  • CWGC
  • Archives New Zealand
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

“Lieutenant John Ernest Thompson, news of whose death in action in France was received at Balclutha on the 16th, was the second son of Mr Samuel Thompson, of Castle street, Dunedin. He served his time with Messrs Brown, Ewing, and Co., and when quite young went to Wellington to enter the employment of the Te Aro Proprietary. From Wellington he went to Australia, and at 18 years of age enlisted for active service at the Boer war. He received a sergeant’s stripes, and after considerable active service returned to New Zealand. Preparatory to taking up the managership of the Import Stores, Balclutha, he worked for a time at Kilpatrick’s, at Waitati, and was only 21 years of age when he accepted the more responsible position. For many years he resided at Balclutha. He was an ardent worker in patriotic causes, and gave freely to the many calls placed before the people. The deceased enlisted as a private in the Sixteenth Reinforcements. Before leaving New Zealand he had risen to the rank of sergeant, and as such went through the battle of Messines, where he had a miraculous escape from death, being buried by the explosion of an enemy shell. At Oxford he sat for a commission, and after a spell in England had just returned to France, where he met his death. Two brothers of deceased—Lieutenant Thomas (Sixteenth Reinforcements) and Private George (Fortieth Reinforcements) —are on active service, and two brothers and five sisters reside in New Zealand. The deceased was 39 years of age.“ [Otago Witness, Issue 3367, 25 September 1918, Page 42]

Public Contributions:

There are no public contributions written for this casualty

Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
22678
Name:
John Ernest Thompson
Rank: 
Second Lieutenant
Date of Birth:
Not known
Next of Kin: 
Mrs S. Thompson (mother), 698 Castle Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Occupation on Enlistment:
Merchant
Unit:
NZEF, Otago Regiment, 2 Battalion

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Killed in action
Date of Death:
02 September 1918
Day of Death:
Monday
Age at Death: 
39
Conflict: 
WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Place:
Wellington, New Zealand
Embarkment Date:
20 August 1916
Transport:
HMNZT 63
Vessel:
Navua
Destination:
Devonport, England

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery Reference: 
II. F. 12.
Cemetery Location: 
France
John Ernest Thompson
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