3/452 Private Archibald William Thomson, 20/12/1895-14/10/1918.

Archibald Thomson was a butcher, working in the family business for his father when he joined the army in October, 1914, leaving for Trentham on the 20th.  He had peacetime experience with the No. 2 Field ambulance so was enlisted in the Medical Corps.  He served at Gallipoli and was sent to a hospital ship in May, 1915, suffering from dysentry - a common disease in the hot Gallipoli trenches with limited latrine space and hordes of flies breeding in the warm corpses of no-man's-land.

While hospitalised he was also diagnosed with severe tuberculosis and was sent to Egypt and then to England.

For some reason, perhaps to make room for front line casualties or perhaps for the climate, he was sent from England to Malta and from there to Alexandria before being put on the New Zealand hospital ship "Maheno" for home, leaving at the end of November, 1915.

At the end of September 1916 Archibald was discharged from the army on account of sickness.  Nothing further is reported by the papers in his case until news of his death and funeral.

FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE.

DEATHS. 

THOMSON. — On October 14, 1918, at Dunedin, Private Archibald William (Bill). 15/452, Second Reinforcements, N.Z.E.F., and dearly beloved fourth son of Duncan and Jane Thomson, of City road, Roslyn, aged 22 years. 

Until the day dawns and the shadows flee away.  -Otago Daily Times, 15/10/1918.

FUNERAL. 

THE Friends of Duncan and Jane Thomson and family are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of their late son Private Archibald William Thomson, which will leave their residence, City road, Roslyn. TO-MORROW (Wednesday), the 16th, inst., at 2.15 o'clock, for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery 

A. S. ARCHER AND CO.  Military Funeral Directors.  -Evening Star, 15/10/1918.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.

Private Archibald Wm, Thomson, fourth son of Mr Duncan Thomson, of City road. Roslyn, died on Monday. He went away with the Second Reinforcements. The military funeral took place yesterday afternoon, the burial being at the Anderson Bay cemetery. Captain Myers (A.A.G.) and Captain Dobson represented the district headquarters staff. About 40 members of the Returned Soldiers' Association attended. The firing party were men from the Central Battery, under Sergeant-major Boult, Bugler Tyrie sounded 'The Last Post.'  -Evening Star, 17/10/1918.