Howard West Thompson was born in 1900 at Wandsworth in Surrey, the second of two sons of Charles Edward Thompson (a publisher) and Lizzie Julia Thompson (née Bennett), of 25 Baskerville Road in Wandsworth. He was baptised on 23 June, 1900 at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Wandsworth. His parents died in 1905 and 1908 respectively. He was then brought up by his aunt and uncle, Margaret Emily Bennett and Ernest L Bennett, of 'Killarney' in Summerdown Road, Eastbourne, in Sussex, who acted in loco parentis.
His elder brother, Maurice West Thompson (born 1898), served initially as a 2nd class air mechanic, No. 68270, in the Royal Flying Corps before being commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant. He was killed in action in France on 23 November, 1917, whilst serving with No. 60 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
Howard West Thompson either enlisted or was conscripted, probably on reaching 18 years of age. He enlisted at Chichester, in Sussex, and was posted, as a private, No. TR/10/181817, to the 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment. His service record has not survived.
The 52nd (Graduated) Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, was formed at Colchester on 27 October, 1917 - (having been the 100th Training Reserve Battalion, Middlesex Regiment) in the 214th Brigade, 71st Division - from the 256th (Graduated) Battalion. In early 1917 it joined the 212nd Brigade, 71st Division, and in February, 1918, transferred to the 191st Brigade, 64th Division, based at Cromer, in Norfolk. The 71st Division was broken up and in April, 1918 and the battalion moved to Thetford, in Norfolk.
Howard West Thompson died died of pneumonia on Monday, 1 July, 1918, at Thetford Military Hospital. He was aged 18 and, not having served overseas, earned no medals.
Howard West Thompson was buried in Thetford Cemetery, his grave being marked by a private memorial that also commemorates his brother, who was killed in action in France (at the time of submitting this story - 2023 - only the two-stepped base of the headstone remains). His name has not been traced on any war memorial.
DONATE TO OUR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Your donation supports projects like this one, which educate and involve future generations in remembering those who fell in the two world wars. Your support helps us keep their stories alive. Thank you.
