Thompson,Charles John McKinnon | Universities at War

Personal details

Badges and Insignia -Northumberland Fusiliers. Image kindly provided by Wartime Memories Project.

Name on Memorial:

Thompson, C. J. M.

Forename(s):

Charles John McKinnon

Surname:

Thompson

Date of Birth:

Tuesday, January 10, 1893

Date of Death:

Monday, March 27, 1916

Age at Death:

University life

College:

Armstrong College, Newcastle upon Tyne

Staff or Student:

Student

Military Service

The information displayed here is at the time of death.

Rank:

Lieutenant

Service:

Army

Unit:

Northumberland Fusiliers, 1st Battalion

Military Training:

Officers’ Training Corps, Armstrong College

Theatre of War:

France and Flanders

Biography

Charles was the son of the Reverend Samuel McKinnon Thompson, born in Ireland and Vicar of Northallerton, and Edith Rose McKinnon Thompson. The family lived in the Old Vicarage at Northallerton with their two servants, Kathleen Kitching and Alice Stainthorpe. Charles was born in Tudhoe, Durham in 1893 and was educated at the Abbey Beckenham, Haileybury College and Armstrong College. Charles was studying Civil Engineering when war broke out.

Chalres served in France during 1914. On the 12th August 1915, Charles was promoted to Lieutenant. He served in the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 29th September 1914. Charles was Acting Town Major at Bailleul in Northern France from 1915 - 1916. He was described as a "brave and capable soldier" by his commanding officer.

Charles was wounded after being struck by a shell when in the second German trench on 27th March 1916 whilst leading his troops at St Eloi and died two days later, aged 23. This was during enemy diversionary attacks around the Ypres Salient, lasting from 27th March to 16th April 1916. The objective of the attack was to advance beyond the craters to the third German trench line.

Addresses before and during the war

Place of Burial or Battle Site Memorial

Charles was buried on the battlefield. Charles is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

Memorials

Other Memorials:

Charles is also commemorated on a stained glass window in All Saints Church, Northallerton, North Yorkshire.

Additional images

Research information

Sources:

UK Census registers, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)

UK Military Service Records, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)

Newcastle University Archives (Roll of Service, Armstrong College Calendars, The Northerner Student Magazine)

North East War Memorials Project

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Researched by:

Sophie Anderton, Ian Johnson, Rosie Setford