Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain A. C. Thompson, Royal Engineers, later New Zealand Forces, who was wounded in North West Europe with 20 Field Company, Royal Engineers

1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Capt. A. C. Thompson. R.E.) mounted as worn; together with the recipient’s Royal Warrant Holders Association Medal, E.II.R., the reverse officially named ‘A. C. Thompson Esq’, in Garrard, London, case of issue, nearly extremely fine (6) £140-£180

Anthony Charles Thompson was born in Chertsey, Surrey, on 11 September 1922 and attested for the Royal Engineers as a Boy Soldier in Brighton on 30 June 1937. Having passed No. 18 Bomb Disposal Course at the School of Military Engineering, January to February 1943, he was advanced Sergeant on 26 June 1943, and served with 20 Field Company, Royal Engineers in North West Europe from 18 June 1944, being wounded on 3 July 1944. After recovering in England he was sent out again to Holland with the same unit from 1 October 1944, serving until February 1945. His conduct was described as ‘exemplary’, and he received a high recommendation from his Commanding Officer.

Commissioned Second Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, on 21 February 1945, Thompson saw further service in post-War Palestine as a Captain with the No. 344 Squadron, Royal Engineers. Relinquished his commission in 1948, he subsequently emigrated to New Zealand and attested for the New Zealand Electrical Mechanical Engineers 15 November 1949 as a Sergeant. He was soon after commissioned Lieutenant into the same unit on 3 May 1951, and served as Chief Instructor and Company Commander at Papakura Military Camp, relinquishing his commission 22 May 1956 and was put on the retired list.

Moving back to Farnham, Surrey, Thompson was appointed to a commission in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 17 November 1959. He transferred to the Transportation Section, Royal Engineers, on 1 October 1962, and transferred to the Royal Corps of Transport 15 July 1965 retiring as a Captain on 1 April 1967.

Sold with the recipient’s original Regular Army Certificate of Service Red Book; Soldier’s Service and Pay Book; Royal Engineers cap badge; a caricature portrait of the recipient; New Zealand Military Forces identity card, with a photograph of the recipient; a photograph of the recipient wearing his medals; and other ephemera.