A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars

Three: Second Lieutenant (Pilot) J. Thompson, No. 19 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, formerly Honourable Artillery Company, awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry at Hooge, and subsequently killed in aerial combat on 16 October 1916, the fifth victim of Manfred von Richtofen

1914-15 Star (1424 Pte., H.A.C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (2. Lieut.) nearly extremely fine (3) £1200-1500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Medals to Officers Who Died During The Two World Wars.

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Awarded D.C.M. London Gazette 11 March 1916. ‘For conspicuous gallantry. Although wounded he advanced with his platoon to the first line of a threatened flank and refused to leave his men till he had led them back at the end of the day.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

John Thompson was born in 1893 at West Bromwich, and joined the H.A.C. on 24 August 1914, going overseas with them on 26 December following. He was wounded in action at Hooge on 16 June 1915, for which action he was awarded the D.C.M. On recovery he was given a commission, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the R.F.C.

He was killed in action on 16 October 1916 over Ytres, Somme, whilst on a bombing raid, when his BE12 became the fifth plane to be shot down by Manfred von Richtofen. He is buried at Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension.

Manfred von Richtofen erroneously claimed that Lieutenant E. W. Capper was the pilot of the plane he shot down on this day. As Lieutenant Capper did not become a casualty until April 1917, it is probable that Thompson was either wearing an item of clothing or carrying a map with Capper’s name marked on it.