25/692 Sergeant Walter Thomson, (31/7/1895-15/9/1916). "of great promise"

Sergeant Walter Thomson (killed in action) was the youngest son of Mr William Thomson, Maungatua. He was educated at the Maungatua and Otago High Schools. After passing his matriculation examination, he served for two years as pupil teacher at the Kaikorai and Wakari Schools. He then entered the Training College, and attended classes at the University. When 20 years of age he enlisted in the 3rd Battalion, N.Z.R.B. In a few days he was made lance-corporal, and by the time they reached France he had been promoted to the rank of sergeant. In France he and another were sent to a school of instruction for physical and bayonet exercises, afterwards becoming instructors. After the Rifle Brigade suffered so severely, he was reported wounded. When time passed and no word came from him, his friends became anxious, and made inquiries at the Defence Office in Wellington, but could get no information. The news concerning his death was first received from letters written by his comrades. One comrade in the same company said he was shot when they were storming the third German trench. A letter came from the chaplain of his battalion saying that he was buried on the field with some of his comrades. In a fortnight Mr Thomson received official notice that a mistake had been made, and that Sergeant Thomson had been killed, and not wounded. He was a lad of great promise, of a most cheerful disposition, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. Mr Thomson has two other sons at the front. Trooper Aleck Thomson left with the Main Body. He contracted enteric on Gallipoli, was invalided to England, and is new with his old regiment in France. Private Frank Thomson enlisted in Australia, and is now in the motor transport service with the Australians in France. None of the brothers had' met, and six weeks afterwards did. not know of Walter's death. On Saturday Mr Thomson received a cablegram from a friend in London saying that Walter's grave was registered in Flers.  -ODT, 21/1/2/1916.

Punctually at 8.20 a.m., the 2nd and 3rd (Walter's) Battalions left the Brown Line and advanced towards the third objective. At this stage the 3rd Battalion lost three company leaders, Capt. Strang being killed and Capt. Thomson and Lieut. Masefield wounded.

On the right, the 2nd Battalion companies experienced little difficulty in dealing with their section of Flers Trench; but they came under heavy machine-gun fire from Flers Support as they moved forward from the former, and this caused a few minutes' check.

On the left, the 3rd Battalion found trouble at once. The wire in front of Flers Trench was practically intact, and, while held up by this obstacle, the leading companies suffered heavily at the hands of the German machine-gunners and snipers. Repeated efforts were made to break through the barrier, among these being a particularly daring bombing attack led by 2nd Lieut. R. A. Bennett, but all attempts proved utterly unavailing. The men thereupon took cover in shell-holes and awaited the arrival of the tanks, then momentarily expected. Lance-Corporal E. Bassett, becoming impatient, moved out into the open and repeatedly picked off enemy snipers as they showed their heads to fire. He put up an excellent score, and came through the ordeal without a scratch. Equally commendable was the work of a runner, Rifleman J. R. B. Harwood, who moved about the scattered parties in the shell-holes, establishing touch and aiding organization.

Two tanks came up at 10.30 a.m. One of them took up a position on the extreme left flank, while the second proceeded to deal with the wire and machine-guns holding up our men. Realizing the difficulties confronting the leading waves of the 3rd Battalion, Major J. Pow, of the 4th Battalion, together with 2nd Lieut. A. C. Fulton and a party of riflemen and bombers, moved forward to their assistance. Bombing along Flers Trench he met with wonderful success, capturing no fewer than 145 prisoners, including two officers. Bombing parties of the 3rd Battalion had also been active, and presently, this section of Flers Trench being taken, the rear waves of the battalion advanced. Sending parties up the saps and inwards from the left flank, they secured Flers Support and pressed on to capture their allotted portion of Abbey Road. -Official History of the NZ Rifle Brigade.

West Taieri Cemetery.