Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War 1914-15 ‘Winter Operations’ D.C.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant A. Thompson, Northumberland Fusiliers, for gallantry at Kemmel on 26 January, and at Ypres on 4 March 1915.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (1629 Sjt: A. Thompson. 1/Nth’ld Fus:); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1908 (1629 Pte. A. Thompson 1st. Bn. North’d Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (1629 Sjt. A. Thompson. North’d Fus.) pawn broker’s mark to edges, nearly very fine (3) £700-900

D.C.M. London Gazette 23 June 1915:
‘For conspicuous gallantry on various occasion, notably at Kemmel on 26th January 1915, when he bombed the enemy’s trench with good effect in front of a detached post; and near Ypres on 4 March 1915, when he showed great coolness in command of a detached trench after more than half its garrison had been killed or wounded by shell fire.’

Albert Thompson was born at Middlesbrough in 1886, and attested for service with the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1905. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he proceeded to India, and served on the North West Frontier during the Mohmand Expedition of 1908. Returning to the U.K. in 1913, the 1st Battalion was stationed in Portsmouth, where it remained until the outbreak of war, having been assigned to the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division. Thompson landed with his Battalion at Le Havre on 14 August 1914, and served with the Northumberland Fusiliers throughout the Great War on the Western Front (additionally entitled to a 1914 Star with clasp and the Victory Medal). He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his conspicuous gallantry at Kemmel, on 26 January 1915, and near Ypres on 4 March 1915. He was additionally awarded the Russian Medal of St. George, 2nd Class (London Gazette 25 August 1915), the only man of his Regiment so honoured.
The Fifth in the Great War, by Brigadier H. R. Sandilands, states that Thompson was absent from a presentation of D.C.M. ribands at Ouderdom, on 12 June 1915, as a result of wounds received on 4 May 1915. He later served with the 8th Battalion, and was discharged to Class ‘Z’ Reserve following the Armistice. He subsequently emigrated to Canada.