PROMOTED TO MAJOR
Young Timaru Officer
Rapid Rise In Rank
Advice that Acting-Major F. S. R. Thomson, of Timaru, who is serving with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East, has been promoted to the rank of major, has been received.
Major Thomson, who enlisted for service on the first day when the call for volunteers was made, has had a distinguished military career and has been mentioned in dispatches once and wounded three times. Now 30 years of age. he has attained high rank in the field in a comparatively short period.
He commenced his military training as a private in the medical corps and was selected for the first officers’ training corps in the present war at a North Island camp. Major Thomson passed out as a second-lieutenant and was drafted to the Second Echelon. After remaining in England for about a year, the unit travelled to Egypt via the Cape, and after serving in Egypt for some months he gained his full lieutenancy. Major Thomson took part in the fighting in Greece, where he was wounded slightly. He served through the campaign in Crete, and with the survivors of his company was successfully evacuated to Egypt, where he was promoted to captain. Some 15 months ago when the Eighth Army broke through to Benghazi, he was shot through a lung, but was successfully evacuated. He was so badly wounded that it was not thought advisable to transfer him to a hospital ship, which in his case proved providential as the vessel was subsequently sunk by enemy action. Major Thomson made a good recovery and returned to his unit, taking part in the El Alamein battle, in which he was mentioned in dispatches, and the subsequent campaign. He was promoted to acting-major several months ago and was recently confirmed in the rank of major. A former captain in the Timaru Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Rugay team and a prominent South Canterbury representative player, Major Thomson represented the New Zealand Army in a number of matches in England, and he also played for the Army in several cricket matches. -Timaru Herald, 31/3/1943.
Over 400 prisoners, all Germans, had been sent back by the unit to the brigade prisoner-of-war cage. More were sent back on 27 March. The battalion's losses were by no means high for an infantry daylight attack—3 officers and 8 other ranks killed and 1 officer and 29 other ranks wounded. From the military point of view, the loss of such experienced company commanders as Captains Ted Thomson and Grant Robertson was serious.
Thomson died of the wounds he received when a low-flying fighter shot up his truck some distance behind the battle area. A fearless and natural leader of tremendous energy, he had frequently galvanised his men into action in the most trying circumstances. The sight of Ted with his floppy ‘cheese-cutter’ cap worn at a rakish angle over his inimitable happy grin invariably stirred the C Company men to follow his lead, while his slogan in battle or on the rugby field of ‘Get cracking’ always produced the desired response. -Official History of the 23rd Battalion.
DEATH ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Major F. S. R. Thomson
POPULAR TIMARU OFFICER
A casualty list received last night announces the death in the Middle East of Major Frederick S. R. Thomson, of Timaru.
Major Thomson, who was 30, was the third son of the late Mr and Mrs T. Thomson, of Timaru. Educated at the Timaru Boys’ High School, he was subsequently employed on a sheep station in the Wairarapa, but owing to an illness he returned to Timaru. On regaining his health he entered the business of T. and J. Thomson, where he was engaged up till the time of his enlistment. He was wounded on three previous occasions and was mentioned in dispatches during the Battle of El Alamein.
Major Thomson, who enlisted when the call for service was made, was posted to the medical corps and was later selected for the first officers’ training corps in the present war at a North Island camp. Gaining his commission, he was drafted to the Second Echelon which remained in England for about a year. After serving in Egypt for some months he was promoted to lieutenant. He served in Greece, where he was slightly wounded. After the Crete Campaign, he was promoted to captain. Major Thomson was badly wounded in a lung during the fighting when the Eighth Army broke through to Benghazi, but he made a good recovery and returned to his unit to take part in the El Alamein battle, in which he was mentioned in dispatches. He was promoted actingmajor some months ago and was recently confirmed in this rank. Popular with his colleagues, Major Thomson was held in high esteem by the men under his command.
A keen athlete Major Thomson was a South Canterbury representative Rugby and cricket player and he was a former captain in the Old Boys’ Rugby team. Major Thomson represented the New Zealand Army in a number of matches in England, and he also played for the Army in several cricket matches. -Timaru Herald, 7/4/1943.
MAJOR F.S.R. THOMSON
Major Frederick S. R. Thomson, whose death while serving in the Middle East was announced in a casualty list yesterday, was the third son of Mr and Mrs T. Thomson, Timaru. He was 30 years of age, and was educated at the Timaru Boys’ High School. He was employed for a time on a sheep station in the Wairarapa district and later joined the staff of T. and J. Thomson, at Timaru, where he was employed up till the time of his enlistment. He was wounded three times and was mentioned in dispatches in the Battle of El Alamein.
A member of the first officers’ training corps in the present war at a North Island camp, Major Thomson gained his commission and was posted to the 2nd Echelon. He was with that unit in England and Egypt and saw action in Greece, Crete and Libya. Formerly a South Canterbury representative Rugby football and cricket player, he represented the New Zealand Army in football matches in England, and he also played for the Army in a number of cricket matches. -Press, 8/4/1943.
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