Ralph William George Thompson
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Ralph William George was the eldest son of Ralph Thompson and his first wife, Kate Thompson nee Richardson. His father Ralph was born in 1851 at Cavendish, Suffolk, the son of George Thompson, a grocer. His mother Kate Richardson was born in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1855 (O/N/D Norwich), the daughter of William and Sarah Richardson. She was baptised at the parish church of Heigham, Norwich, on 23 September 1855. Her father was also a grocer. Ralph and Kate were married at St Stephen's church, Norwich, on 1 January 1877 (J/F/M Norwich), the banns having been read on 17, 24 and 31 December 1876. Both were living in the parish of St Stephen. They had at least six children: Kate Lily Florence b. Ireland 2 December 1877 (birth registered Clogheen Tipperary), Ralph George William b. Dublin 16 April 1880, Rose Violet, b. Birmingham Warwickshire 7 November 1883 bap. 28 November 1883 Ashted St James the Lesser (address, 'The Barracks'), Frederick Harry b. Muttra Bengal (India) abt. 1886, Harriett Emily b. Muttra 20 November 1887 and Charles Robert b. Muttra abt. 1890. Ralph snr. was a career soldier and served in the 3rd Dragoons retiring in the rank of Squadron Sergeant Major. He served in Ireland, the UK and Bengal, India, but had returned to the UK by 1891. In 1891 Ralph (40) was a drill sergeant instructor with the Notts Hussars and living on Thorneywood Lane, Sneinton, with his wife Kate (35) and children Kate (13), Ralph (11), Rose (7), Frederick (5), Harriett (3) and Robert (1). Also in the household was Ralph's sister-in-law, Lily Richardson, a dressmaker. Lily's age was given on the census as 28, however, she was born in Norwich in 1860 (J/F/M Norwich) and baptised on 9 February 1860 at the parish church of Heigham, Norwich. Kate died in 1891 (A/M/J Nottingham) aged 35 and Ralph married secondly Lily Richardson in 1891 (O/N/D Nottingham). It seems from the evidence presently available that he may have married his late wife's sister although this was prohibited until the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act of 1907. According to the information on the 1911 Census, Ralph and Lily had four children who were all still living in 1911 although only three children were recorded on the 1901 and 1911 census: Madge birth registered 1894 (J/F/M Nottingham) bap. 3 January 1894 St Stephen Hyson Green, Victoria May b. 1896 (J/A/S Basford) bap. 17 June 1896 St John the Evangelist Carrington, and Frank b. 1898 (J/A/S Basford-Richardson). According to the baptismal records, the family was living at 8 Palin Street in 1894 and 13 Burton Street in 1896. In 1901 Ralph (50), a sergeant major (cavalry), was living at 7 Burton Street, Nottingham, with Lily (39), five of his children by his first marriage - Kate (23), Rose (17) a shirt machinist, Frederick (15) a stationer, Harriet (13) and Charles (11) - and their three children, Madge (7), Victoria (4) and Frank (2). Ralph's eldest son Ralph had married in 1900 and was probably living with his wife and family in Derby in 1901. Ralph snr. retired from the army on 11 December 1902. Ralph jnr. married his wife Eugene Elizabeth Rust on 16th September 1900 at St Stephen's Church, Nottingham. They went on to have the following children: Florence Helen born 30th December 1900, Eugene born 22nd January 1902, Ralph born 10th May 1903, Charles William born 5th July 1904, Frederick Thomas born 27th January 1907, Alice born 15th September 1908 and Kate Muriel born 25th October 1912. In the 1911 census the family are living at 12 Loscoe Terrace, Carrington, and are shown as Ralph Wiliam George 30 yrs born 1881 Dublin, he is a house painter and living with his wife Eugene Elizabeth 30 yrs born Leicester and their children, Florence Helen 10 yrs born Derby a scholar, Eugenie 7 yrs born Derby, Ralph 7 yrs born Derby, Charles William 6 yrs born Derby, Frederick Thomas 4 yrs born Derby and Alice 2yrs born Nottingham. In the same census his father Ralph, an army pensioner and malster, and his second wife Lily (49) were living at 13 Mafeking Street, Sneinton, with Harriett Emily 23 yrs a ladies helper, Madge 17 yrs a shop assistant (milliner), Victoria May 14 yrs a scholar and Frank 12 yrs a scholar. Ralph snr. died on 5 April 1918 Of Ralph's full-blood siblings: Kate Lily Florence married William Diggle in 1908 (A/M/J Nottingam). In 1911 Kate and William (b. 2 December 1877), a printer, were living at 6 Beardsley Terrace, Goodhead Street, Meadows; they had had two children who had not survived infancy. In 1939 at the time of the England & Wales Register she and William, a railway checker, were living at 18 Bute Avenue. Nottingham, with their son Ralph W. (b. 3 December 1912), a printer. Kate died on 5 September 1957. Rose Violet married Thomas William Whitchurch in 1906 (J/A/S Nottingham). In 1911 they were living at 11 Seaton Terrace, Goodhead Street, Meadows, with their children May Violet (4), Doris Winifred (3) and Thomas Charles Frederick (1); Thomas was a clerk/book keeper. They had other children including a daughter, Irene. Thomas snr. was killed on 9 May 1941 in the air raid on Nottingham; he was probably employed by the Nottingham Co-operative Society. Rose Violet died on 11 November 1944. Frederick Harry served in the Sherwood Foresters and was in India with the 1st Battalion in 1911. He married Clara Rebecca; the date/place of the marriage has not yet been traced but the WW1 Pension Ledger record confirms her name and status. He died on 27 December 1924; he and his wife were then living at 14 Radnor Street, Nottingham. Harriett Emily married John H Shaw (b. 18 May 1874) in 1919 (O/N/D Nottingham). In 1939 they were living at 1 Laurel Street, Nottingham, with their children Kathleen M. (b. 4 December 1921) a shop assistant, and Peter R. (b. 17 January 1924) an electrical fitter apprentice. Harriet died on 10 August 1956. Charles Robert enlisted in the Militia in October 1905 and transferred to the Sherwood Foresters in November 1905. He named his father Ralph, mother (sic) Lily and brothers Frederick, serving with the Sherwood Foresters, and Ralph (of Derby) as his next of kin. Both Charles and his brother Frederick were serving in India with the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters iin 1911. Charles was serving in the Sherwood Foresters when he died of wounds and blood poisoning at Derby Royal Infirmary on 30 April 1917 (Carrington St John churchyard). The Register of Soldiers' Effects shows that Charles named his father, sister Kate (Diggle) and sister-in-law, Elizabeth E. Thompson as his legatees. He was engaged to Nell at the time of his death. (See record on this ROH)
His army service record states he enlisted on 4th November 1914 at Nottingham. He gave his age as 34 yrs and 203 days and stated that he was a painter. He was posted as a rifleman with the King’s Royal Rifle Corps joining them at their depot at Winchester on 6th November 1914. He was promoted to Corporal 1st January 1915, to Sergeant on 27th March 1915 and to Company Sergeant Major on 26th August 1917. He landed in France on 3rd September where he served until 12th May 1916 when he was returned to England suffering from muscular rheumatism. Following treatment in England he returned to France on 14th January 1917 and was posted to the 7th battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Ralph was killed in action on 21st March 1918; he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial.
One of his brothers, L/Cpl. Charles Robert Thompson, M.M., 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, died of wounds at the Royal Infirmary, Derby, on 30th April 1917. He is buried in Carrington (St. John) Churchyard, Nottingham. (See record on this ROH) Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour' , 20 April 1918 (abridged): Thompson. Killed in action March 21st, Colour Sergeant Major Ralph William George Thompson MM, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Wife and children, 12 Loscoe Terrace, Church Drive, Carrington. Eldest son of the late ex-Sergeant Major Thompson, 28 St Stephen's Road, sisters. son-in-law of Mr and Mrs TA Read(?) of Beeston.' 'In memoriam' notices Nottingham Evening Post, published 21st March 1919:- THOMPSON. – In loving memory of my dear husband and dad, Sergt.-Major Thompson, M.M., K.R.R., killed in action March 21st, 1918. Not a morning dawns nor a night returns but what we think of thee. – Sorrowing wife and children. THOMPSON. – In loving memory of our dear son-in-law and brother-in-law, Co. Sergt.-Major R. Thompson, K.R.R., killed in action March 21st, 1918. What would we give to clasp his hand, and bid him welcome home. – From Mr. and Mrs. Rust, Charlie, Nellie, and Lavinia. Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 His pension card gives the following information: his wife Eugene Thompson born 12th September 1879 lived at 12 Loscoe Terrace, Church Drive, Carrington. They had the following children: Ralph born 10th May 1903, Charles William born 5th July 1904, Frederick Thomas born 27th January 1907, Alice born 15th September 1908 and Kate Muriel born 25th October 1912. His widow was awarded a pension of 42 shillings and 11 pence commencing 21st October 1918. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 5 April 1919: ‘Thompson. In kind and affectionate remembrance of our dear dad and grandpa, ex-Sergt-Major Thompson, who fell asleep April 5th, 1918. A kind and considerate father. Sadly missed. From Rose, Tom and grandchildren. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk).’ Nottingham Evening Post: Deaths’, 29 December 1924: Thompson. On December 27th, 14 Radnor-street, Frederick, the beloved husband of Clara Thopson, aged 38 years. At rest.’ Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 9 May 1944: ‘Whitchurch. Treasured memories of Thomas, loving husband and father, through enemy action, May 9th, 1941 His memory is our greatest treasure. Wife, sons, daughters, Tom (prisoner of war) and grandchildren.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 13 November 1944. ‘Whitchurch. On November 11th, Rose Violet, after much suffering, passed peacefully away, dearly loved mother of Doris and Charles,. Funeral 1.30, Tuesday, Rock Cemetery.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
No Photos