Arthur Henry Thompson

Arthur Henry Thompson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	27 Jun 1900
Place of Birth	Spalding, England
Death	18 Mar 1970, aged 69
Place of Death	Tuart Hill, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	40 years, 3 months
Description	6'2" (1.88m) tall ; ; dark complexion ; blue eyes ; grey hair
Occupation	Tractor driver
Religion	Church of England
Address	Ninth avenue, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Martha Thompson
Military Information
Reg Number	WX8899
Date of Enlistment	25 Oct 1940
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	2/7th Australian Field Ambulance
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	5 Jul 1941 ‒ 25 Jul 1941
Transport Details	HMT Aquitania Fremantle to Port Tewfik, Egypt
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	12 Feb 1942 ‒ 28 Mar 1942
Transport Details	HMT Aronda Egypt to Port Adelaide
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Africa Star (?) Defence Medal War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Farm labourers Arthur (35) and his younger brother George (29) emigrated to Australia from 6 Rock terrace, Durrington on the SS Baradine, departing Plymouth on 4 Aug 1934.

Electoral Roll entries: 1936 at Cubbine Station Quairading, teamster;

War Service

Enlisted 25 Oct 1940 at the Claremont Recruit Reception Depot, before on 27 Nov 1940 being transferred to Northam to join the No 3 Depot Battalion. On 8 Jan 1941 he was allocated to the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC). On 21 Jan 18941 he was posted to the 2/7th Australia Field Ambulance reinforcements, and entrained for Victoria on 23 Feb 1941 where he joined the AAMC Training Depot. Following training, on 5 Jun 1941 he was posted to the 5th Reinforcement draft for the 2/7th Australian Field Ambulance. Sent to WA on pre-embarkation leave on 26 Jun 1941, he boarded the HMT Aquitania which was a part of convoy US 11A in Fremantle on 5 Jul 1941. They travelled to the Middle East via Colombo in Ceylon, and disembarked in Port Tewfik on 25 Jul 1941.

The next day Arthur was evacuated to the 2/1st Australian General Hospital, suffering with pneumonia. A month later on 29 Aug 1941 he was released to the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot, and it was not until 6 Oct 1941 that he joined the 2/7th Australian Field Ambulance to Khassa in Southern Palestine. Arthur was graded as a Group III Nursing Orderly. On 15 Jan 1942 the unit was warned to be ready to move and for a short time moved to Jericho. Soon after their return home began with a move to El Katana, and then Port Tewfik where on 12 Feb 1942 he boarded the HMT Aronda, sailing the following day, and arrived in Fremantle on 20 Mar 1942, and finally disembarking in Adelaide on 28 Mar 1942. Their new base for the moment was in the MT Lofty ranges

On 13 May 1942 he was detached to the No 2 AIF Staging Camp, and was sent to the Northern Territory from 31 May 42 to 21 Jun 1943 when he was transferred to Queensland at a time when his old unit was moving to the Northern Territory. Thus Arthur's service with the 2/7th Aust Field Ambulance was brief. On 25 Aug 1943 he was transferred as a patient to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital from the 109th Casualty Clearing Station, and was treated for Sacro-iliac arthritis (right hip). Well enough to be discharged from hospital, he spent 21 days on home leave, before returning to Queensland. On 10 Sep 1943 he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Corps Reception Camp having been assessed as medically fit to carry out certain duties which require only restricted medical fitness.

On 11 Nov 1943 he was transferred to Townsville where he was attached to the Australian Army Medical Corps Depot before spending time in base units until he was transferred to the WA Line of Command to prepare for discharge in early November 1945. Arthur was discharged on 27 Nov 1945.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 - 1963 at 19 Mary street Claremont, orderly