Wednesday, 4 September 2024

9/103 Trooper Alec Leslie Thomson, (12/12/1893-8/9/1915). "played a good game"


Trooper A. L. Thomson, Trooper Alex. Leslie Thomson, of St. Clair, who died at Malta on the 8th instant from enteric, was the eldest of the four sons of the late Mr Thomas Thomson, of St. Clair. The father died on the 10th instant at a private hospital in Dunedin. He did not know of his son's death. Trooper Alex. Thomson was born in Dunedin 21 years ago and received the beginning of his education at the George street school, then going to the Waitaki Boys' High School. He went into camp at Tahuna Park on the 10th August of last rear and went to Egypt with the main body. At the Dardanelles he had six weeks' duty in the trenches, and was then invalided and sent to Malta, where he lay ill for two months before his death. Trooper Thomson played a good game of Rugby, and was a forward in the Pirates' first fifteen. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Otago Rowing Club, and took a leading part in the doings of the St. Clair Life Saving Club. On January 18th, 1913, he swam out to the rescue of Mr J. H. Clarke and Mr Turvey when they got washed beyond the breakers at St. Clair, and brought ashore his man (Mr Clarke), whom he supposed to be still alive, an act for which he was commended by the Coroner.   -North Otago Times, 22/9/1915.


Alec Thomson lies buried in the Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta.


Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.

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