1st Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment)
Aubrey Lloyd St Clair Thomson was the son of George Frederick who was an artist and Mary Caroline Thomson.
He was born in the third quarter of 1891 at The Cottage, Quendon, Saffron Walden, Essex.
He was educated at Bedford School and attested for service in the Army at Bedford on 15 September 1914, when he was one month short of 23 years of age. He gave his profession as a schoolmaster. He was considered fit for service in 19th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (2nd Public Schools) and whilst with the battalion became a Lance Corporal.
On 5 November 1914 he applied for a commission which was granted on 14 November 1914 and he then joined the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment. According to his Medal Index Card he went to France on 19 May 1915, most likely this was with 1st Battalion, King’s (Liverpool).
On 1 June 1916 the 1st King’s (Liverpool) — part of 6 Brigade, 2 Division — mounted a bombing raid in the Vimy Ridge area, following the blowing of three mines. Lieutenant Thomson suffered a gun shot wound in the left thigh, whilst on this raid.
He underwent operations to remove fragments of shell on 2 and 9 June 1916, before being repatriated, via Rouen and Southampton on 11/12 June 1916 on the St Patrick.
His National Archives’ file (WO339/4166) indicates that he underwent a medical board at 2nd General Hospital, Bristol on 25 October 1916 before rejoining his unit.
During his service he was awarded the Military Cross (an announcement about this was published in the Liverpool Echo on 3 June 1916) and served as Adjutant.
It would appear that he was wounded again between October 1916 and 14 November 1917, when according to his headstone he died of wounds, aged 26.
The Cheltenham Chronicle carried an announcement of his death in the edition dated 8 December 1917. According to the CWGC Register he held the rank of Captain at time of death.
His medals were sent to his father at Mosey Green, Paxford, Campden, Gloucestershire.
A private headstone marks his grave.
Also named on the headstone is his brother, Second Lieutenant George Frederick Maynard Thomson, 11th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, killed in action on 19 May 1917, age 22 and his grave is at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux.
Research by Graham Adams 6 April 2014 (revised)