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Arthur Henry Thompson

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{{infobox soldier ww2 | image =[[File:Thompson_Arthur_Henry_1.jpg] | caption = | image2 = | caption2 = | dateofbirth = 27 Jun 1900 | placeofbirth = Spalding, England | death = 18 Mar 1970, aged 69 | placeofdeath = Tuart Hill, Western Australia | enlistmentage = 40 years, 3 months | description = 6'2" (1.88m) tall dark complexion, blue eyes, grey hair | height = 6'2" (1.88m) | weight = | complexion = dark | eyes = blue | hair = grey | descriptionnote = | occupation = Tractor driver | religion = Church of England | address = Ninth avenue, Armadale, Western Australia | relation = Mother | nextofkin = Mrs Martha Thompson | regnumber = WX8899 | enlistmentdate = 25 Oct 1940 | rank = Private | unit = 2/7th Australian Field Ambulance | 1stembarkationdatefrom= 5 Jul 1941 | 1stembarkationdateto= 25 Jul 1941 | 1sttransportembarked= HMT Aquitania | 1sttransportnote= Fremantle to Port Tewfik, Egypt | 1stdateofreturnfrom= 12 Feb 1942 | 1stdateofreturnto= 28 Mar 1942 | 1sttransportreturn= HMT Aronda | 1sttransportreturnnote= Egypt to Port Adelaide | fate1 = Returned to Australia | fate2 = | fate3 = | fate4 = | monument1 = | monumentnote1 = | monument2 = | monumentnote2 = | monument3 = | monumentnote3 = | monument4 = | monumentnote4 = | monument5 = | monumentnote5 = | monument6 = | monumentnote6 = | monument7 = | monumentnote7 = | monumentawm = | monumentawmnote = | monumentother = | monumentothernote = | medal1 = 1939-45 Star | medal2 = Africa Star | medal3 = Defence Medal | medal4 = War Medal 1939-45 | medal5 = 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 2/1st 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 sent to the No. 2 AIF (Middle East) Staging Camp for re-allocation, and was sent to the Northern Territory Line of Communication Area in Darwin, arriving on 10 Jun 1942. On 8 Dec 1942 he was detached to 2/1st Northern Australia Observer Unit until 15 Apr 1943 when he rejoined the 2/7th Australian Field Ambulance until 21 Jun 1943 when Arthur was then transferred to Queensland, via a period of leave home in Western Australia. Soon after his arrival in Queensland, he was seen by the 109th Casualty Clearing Station who transferred him as a patient to the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital on 25 Aug 1943, where he was treated for Sacro-iliac arthritis (right hip). Well enough to be discharged from hospital on 10 Sep 1943, he returned briefly to the 2/7th Australian Field Ambulance despite 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 Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 4 Nov 1945 to prepare for discharge. Arthur was discharged on 27 Nov 1945.

Post War

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

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