The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

dudu62 · Joined: 03 Nov 2015 Posts: 2 Location: France

Hi Alls

here in France, I have been given copy of a Red Cross inquiry dated 1941 sent to the family of a presumed british soldier, escaped from Dunkirk
His name : Thomson C. Andrew - 6 Union Street HAWICK - Scotland.
The sender of this inquiry was a member of french underground who helped this soldier when he was in Boulogne sur mer, her name Maria Broussin.
She received an answer of Andrew Thomson's mother dated 02/06/1941 who said : Thanks for your letter , Andrew not at home but in good health.
Nothing is known by Mrs Broussin's family of A. Thomson's fate and if he survived the war.
This document has been found by Mrs Broussin's daughter in family's documents when her mother died.
From some research on the web, this soldier could be Andrew Thomson service N° 1134497 - 128(H) Field regiment Royal artillery which was in Dunkirk in 1940. A. Thomson has won the french Croix de guerre with star - so, i think he survived the war.
Mrs Broussin's daughter would be happy to know the end of this history.
Thanks for your help.

Copy of this Red cross inquiry could be sent to the memorial
Dudu62

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2015 12:45 pm Post subject:

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I cannot be positive but this could be Andrew.

ANDREW COWANS THOMSON was born in 1911 in Oxnam near Jedburgh.
In 1946 he married Annie Berston Sutherland in Hawick, Roxburghshire and he died in Hawick in 1983 aged 72.

The London Gazette
Publication date:20 March 1945 Supplement:36994Page:1553

War Office, 22nd March, 1945.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve
that the following be Mentioned in recognition of
gallant and distinguished services in North West
Europe:—

1134497 Gnr. A. Thomson.
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2015 1:46 pm Post subject:

The Hawick News of 18 October 1940 reported:
"Previously reported as probably a prisoner and later as missing, Gunner A. C. Thomson has now been officially reported a prisoner of war. Intimation to this effect was received last week by his widowed mother, Mrs Thomson, 6 Union Street. Gunner Thomson, who has been in the Army for over two years, is in the Royal Horse Artillery. He is 29 years of age and Mrs. Thomson's second son."

However on the 26 November 1943 the same newspaper, in an article about repatriated men, reported:
"The first to come home was Gnr. A. C. Thomson who had escaped and made his way to Marseilles, eventually reaching Gibraltar."

There is a file at the National Archives at Kew, London titled

Reference:
WO 208/3306/523

Description:

Gunner A C Thomson (service number 3186868).

Service: Army, RHA [Royal Horse Artillery].

Repatriated from France.

Possible information on this individual (including appendices) may be present in WO 208/5582-5583.

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14082887
_________________
Ken

DerekR · Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2015 8:24 pm Post subject:

Well done Ken, a great piece of sleuthing.
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Tue Nov 10, 2015 10:55 am Post subject:

Cheers Derek.
Looking at the reports again this morning there is another one on 19 November 1943 which has the headline:
Prisoners of War to Visit Packing Centre Tomorrow.
(this was for Red Cross parcels)

"Among the men invited are Gnr. A. C. Thomson, Union Street, who returned to civil life after escaping from captivity in 1940,"

This suggests that Andrew was discharged from the army (no longer fit for active service????)
So the A. Thomson (1134497) mentioned above was probably another man.
_________________
Ken

dudu62 · Joined: 03 Nov 2015 Posts: 2 Location: France

Thanks All

I will give the informations to Mrs Broussin's daughter.
Answer has been very swift!

Cordialement

Dudu62