Frank Thompson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Frank was born in 1882 South Scarle, and was the eldest son of George a butcher and Sarah Elizabeth Thompson née Brown of North Collingham, Nottinghamshire. His father George was born in 1854 at Torksey and his mother Sarah Elizabeth Brown was born in 1858 at South Clifton, they were married in 1881 their marriage was recorded in the Newark registration district, their children were Frank b1882 South Collingham, Charlotte Mary b1884 South Collingham, Ralph b1889 North Collingham and Albert b1895 North Colingham. He is only ever shown living with the family in the 1891 census when he is living with his family at High Street , North Collingham , Frank is 9 years of age at this time. and his father is the butcher in the village. In the 1901 census he is living at 46 Poets Road, Islington, he is a boarder living with Charlotte Greensmith 55 yrs a widow and her children, Mary Elizabeth 15 yrs a dressmaker and William 14 yrs a railway clerk, he is shown as Frank Thompson 19 yrs a post office sorter born at South Scarle He was the husband of Mary Elizabeth Greenfield born 9th May 1882, who he married in 1908 at Islington on his pension card her address is 26 Burns Street, Stoke Newington, London. In the 1911 census Frank and his wife are living at 31 Burma Road, Stoke Newington, London and are shown as Frank Thompson 29 yrs a letter sorter with the general post office and Mary Elizabeth Thompson 28 yrs.
Rifleman Frank Thompson enlisted at Whitehall, London whilst residing at Palmers Green, he served with the 17th battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps. He was killed in action on 12th November 1917 (shot in the head by a sniper whilst in the front line trench) Having no known grave his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
The following is an extract from the Magnus School, Newark diary of the 'Great War' Saturday 24 November 1917: Frank Thompson’s wife Mary Elizabeth received a ‘wonderful letter’ from his officer to inform her of his death in the trenches: ‘He was the type of man I, as his commander, felt honoured to have had. Owing to his great ability in the use of the Lewis gun, he was sent to a school to receive additional instruction. While there, he won great admiration from his instructors … On his return he took command of my Platoon gun and subsequently gave every possible satisfaction … The plain facts are that he was sniped through the head whilst standing in the front line trench.’ The son of George and Elizabeth Thompson of North Collingham, Frank was educated at Newark Magnus and was building a career with the General Post Office pre-War. Rifleman 37781 Thompson of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
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