Jasper Robson Thompson

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 22/12/2015 - 11:20

First Name:

Jasper

Middle Name:

Robson

Last Name:

Thompson

Mother's Name:

Isabella Thompson

Father's Name:

George Thompson

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, March 11, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Sapper

Unit:

Tunnelling Companies Reinforcements

Company:

Headquarters

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Monday, May 28, 1917

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Jasper Thompson (Service No 5849) was born in Gateshead, England in January 1877. He emigrated to Australia in 1914 with his wife Elizabeth and children.

Jasper was 39 years old when he enlisted. He & his family lived at Balgownie, N.S.W. and Jasper found work at the coal mines.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A38 Ulysses with Tunnelling Company Reinforcements on 25th October 1916. The troops arrived in England on 28th December 1916. On 5th April 1917, Jasper was assigned to Headquarters of the 2nd Tunnelling Company on the Western Front.

On 28th May 1917 Jasper was killed in action in a gas attack. He is buried in Reninghelst New Military Cemetery, Belgium: Plot II, Row D, Grave 19.

Jasper left behind his wife Elizabeth and four children.

His service & sacrifice is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, THOMPSON J R