A fine immediate award D.S.O. group of eight to 2nd Lieutenant (later Major) G. E. Thompson, 2/15th Battalion London Regiment and Royal East Kent Yeomanry

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oakleaf (2. Lieut. G. E. Thompson); Territorial Force War Medal (2. Lieut. G. E. Thompson, 15-Lond. R.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Territorial Decoration, G.V.R.; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (1059 L.Cpl. G. E. Thompson, R.E. Kent. Yeo.) mounted court style as worn, good very fine (8) £4000-4500

D.S.O. London Gazette 29 October 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry when leading bombers in a raid. Though severely wounded, he continued to fight, and personally shot two of the enemy. He helped a wounded man back to our lines and insisted on searching for a missing officer before his wounds were dressed.’

The official press release at the time the award was announced gives a more detailed citation, as follows:

‘Performed most gallant service in a raid on enemy trenches on the morning of 11th September 1916. Although bleeding profusely from wounds, he continued to fight and shot two Germans. He then helped a wounded man back to our lines and, on arrival, hearing that another officer was missing, insisted on returning to search “No Man’s Land”. He would not allow his wounds to be dressed until he had ascertained that all the party had returned to our lines.’

George Ernest Thompson was born sometime before 1885 and joined the Territorial Force in 1902. In 1908 he joined the East Kent Mounted Rifles and later qualified as a marksman. At the outbreak of war he volunteered for overseas service and was commissioned into the 15th Battalion of the London Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil service Rifles). He served briefly in Ireland after the Easter uprising and landed with his battalion in France on 23 June 1916.

In September 1916 twenty volunteers under Lieutenant Peatfield, with Thompson as his second in command, trained for a trench raid on enemy positions in order to gain information on German morale and to identify units withdrawn following the recent heavy fighting. ‘On the night of 11 September, their faces blackened, the raiders crawled out, lugging bombs, ladders and blankets. Immediately they attracted enemy fire and bombs, but no-one was hit. They crept close to the German wire and waited fifteen anxious minutes for a prearranged artillery barrage. The staff waited equally anxiously in the Paris Redoubt as the raiders walked over behind the barrage, clambering across the thick wire on a ‘bridge’ improvised from blankets, and into the German trench. One party made a block at one end, while another rushed along and bombed a dugout, calling for the enemy to surrender. At least two Germans were killed and four were taken prisoner. The party returned quickly, aided by a paper trail thoughtfully laid by Peatfield on the way out.

Several were wounded, including both officers. [Private] John Small was later discovered to be missing. Thompson and Small’s brother returned to the German trench and brought him back, but he died later of his wounds.’

Thompson was evacuated due to his severe wounds and was subsequently awarded the D.S,.O. and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917). After his recovery he served as an Instructor with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, 15th London regiment. Promoted to Captain in March 1928 and to Major in September 1933, he retired in 1938 after 36 years service as a Territorial.