Harold Hubert Thompson died of wounds on this day in 1918
Harold Hubert Thompson was born in 1889 in Smithtown, Kempsey Shire, New South Wales Australia.
His father was Capt. Magnus Thompson of Jerseyville, Macleay River, New South Wales.
Harold had five brothers and three sisters.
He was 26, and working as a builder when, on 19 February 1915, he enlisted in the 18th Battalion, raised at Liverpool in New South Wales as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
He sailed from Australia with the 3rd Reinforcements, and was taken on strength with his Battalion in October 1915. He served for four months on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Ten months later, he was promoted to Corporal, then acting Sergeant and, in due course, Lance Sergeant and Sergeant. A gunshot wound to the abdomen 30 July 1916 led to a month in hospital in Bristol, England. Temporarily furloughed in England, he went Absent Without Leave (AWOL) for a few days and nights in early October. He was severely reprimanded and demoted. However, he re-joined the 18th Battalion in December, soon recovered his rank and continued to receive promotions.
In April 1917, he was selected for officer training and sent to No2. Officer Cadet Training at Pembroke College, Cambridge.
On 15 April 1918, Lt Thompson died of wounds received in action north of Hangard Wood in France. He is buried in Cachy Communal Cemetery (below).
Harold is remembered in his home town of South West Rocks, New South Wales, Australia on the main memorial.
He is also remembered on one of 10 road side 'headstone' like individual memorials, the story of which is told here > Street Memorials in South West Rocks, NSW.
2022 Sergeant Harold Hubert Thompson, 18th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force