Thompson G Captain 13th London Regiment
THOMPSON, GILBERT, Capt., 2nd Battn. Connaught Rangers, attd. as Adjutant 13th Battn. (Princess Louise’s Kensington) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of Reginald Thompson, of Loftus Hill, Knaresborough, Col. 2nd Vol. Battn. West York Regt., by his wife, Frances Harriet, 4th dau. of the Rev. Charles Smith Royds, of Haughton, co. Stafford, and Heysham, co. Lancaster, J.P., and gdson. of Sir Matthews William Thompson, of Guiseley, 1st Bart.; b. Baildon Lodge, 22 June, 1877; educ. Yarlet near Stafford, afterwards privately; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2nd Connaught Rangers, from the Militia, 20 May, 1899, and promoted Lieut. 24 July, 1900, and Capt. 29 Nov. 1905; served eight years with them in India; appointed Adjutant to the Kensingtons, 1 Jan. 1913; left for France with them 3 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Laventie, 24 Feb. 1915. Buried at Picantin. One of the men, writing home, said of him: “We have lost one of our best officers. Capt. Thompson, the Adjutant. He was showing the General round, and he was shot in the head. He was one of the best; he thought of the men first and himself last. Every man is sorry at his death. . . . The men have lost their best friend.”
Another man wrote: “Out in the trenches he was splendid. He would come along and ask how we were and always have something cheery to say. He got his feet frost-bitten and asked what he should do. “See the doctor, sir,” I said. “Not I,” he replied. “He’ll want a few toes off and put me on the sick list.” And he wouldn’t, with all my persuasion. When my feet got very bad, I rode back three miles on his horse and the next morning he came round to see me. He’s splendid.” He was buried in the little cemetery behind the firing-line. His last request was: “Bury me with the boys, not beside the officers,” and this wish was carried out. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 5 April and 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915. Capt. Thompson m. at Finghall, Yorkshire, 7 June, 1906, Ethel Isabella, 2nd dau. of Marmaduke D’Arcy Wyvill, of Constable Burton and Denton Park, Yorkshire, J.P., D.L., and had three children: Christopher Smith Byron, b. 19 April, 1907; Laura Barbara Frances, b. 10 Nov. 1908, and Naomi Isabella, b. 23 Oct. 1912.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1