Tommy Thompson (rugby union): Difference between revisions

Tommy Thompson
Birth name	Gerald W. Thompson
Date of birth	4 October 1886
Date of death	20 June 1916 (aged 29)
Place of death	Kangata, German East Africa
School	Rondebosch Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s)
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career
Years	Team
	Somerset West RFC
Provincial / State sides
Years	Team
1912	Western Province
International career
Years	Team
1912	South Africa
	----
Military career
Buried	Dar es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania
Allegiance	South Africa
Service / branch	South African Infantry
Battles / wars	East African Campaign (World War I)

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Revision as of 11:36, 27 May 2016

Gerald "Tommy" W. Thompson (4 October 1886 – 20 June 1916) was a South African rugby union player from Carnarvon in South Africa, where he attended Rondebosch Boys' High School. He was killed in German East Africa in World War I, while serving in the South African Infantry. He died in action at Kangata, East Africa, and is buried in Dar es Salaam in modern-day Tanzania, near Jacky Morkel.

Thompson took part in the 1912–13 South Africa rugby union tour as an outside centre, and was capped in three tests, against Scotland, Ireland and Wales all in 1912. He played for Western Province.

Early life

Tommy Thompson was born on 4 October 1886, in Carnarvon, Cape Colony, and attended Rondebosch Boys' High School.^[1]

Rugby career

Thompson played rugby for Somerset West Rugby Club, and in 1912 was selected for his provincial club Western Province.^[2] He was a member of the South African rugby team that toured the British Isles and France in 1912-13. The team won all four of its international matches against the Home Nations, and against France.^[1] Thompson played against Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, and in a further twelve matches against other teams.^[2] He was considered to be one of the two best amongst one of the 'finest pack of forwards'. EHD Sewell recounts seeing the game against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on 23 November 1912, and says of Thompson: "I have never seen a better individual performance than his on that frost-bound pitch... Only a few have I seen to equal that all-round display." Thompson played like 'one possessed' on route to a 38 point to zero victory.^[1]

International appearances

Opposition	Score	Result	Date	Venue	Ref(s)
Scotland	0–16	Won	23 November 1912	Inverleith	^[3]
Ireland	0–38	Won	30 November 1912	Lansdowne Road	^[4]
Wales	0–3	Won	14 December 1912	Cardiff	^[5]

Military service

At the outbreak of the First World War, Thompson volunteered for service in South West Africa. At the conclusion of that campaign, he responded to the call for recruits to serve in East Africa, and was drafted into the 5th Regiment of the South African Infantry.^[6] In April, Thompson contracted malaria and was hospitalised.^[7] The troops, who had to march hundreds of miles through difficult terrain, cutting their way through dense bush, suffered greatly from malaria and a shortage of rations.^[8]

On 19 June, the 5th South African Infantry, under the command of Colonel J.J. Byron, was sent in pursuit of German forces, to occupy Kangata, 8 miles south of Pongwe.^[a] They found the Germans entrenched in a concealed position in dense bush. During the firefight that ensued, Byron's forces took heavy losses, but sustained the attack until night, when the Germans retreated.^[8] Thompson was killed in action the following day, 20 June 1916, after a bullet pierced his neck.^[9]

Thompson is buried at Dar es Salaam War Cemetery (Grave 8. A. 3.).^[10] His body lies near that of his fellow countryman and teammate, Jacky Morkel, who died on 15 May 1916 in East Africa.^[11]

Notes

^ McCrery (2014) has made a transcription error, changing Kangata to Katanga.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Sewell 1919, p. 208.
^ ^a ^b "SA Rugby Player Profile – Gerald Thompson". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
^ http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/match?gameId=19165&league=17090
^ http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/match?gameId=19166&league=17090
^ http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/match?gameId=19167&league=17090
^ Sewell 1919, p. 209.
^ McCrery 2014, p. 225.
^ ^a ^b "No. 29906". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 16 January 1917.
^ Sewell 1919, pp. 208–209.
^ "Casualty Details: Thompson, G". Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
^ Cooper 2012.

Bibliography

Cooper, Stephen (2012). The Final Whistle The Great War in Fifteen Players. New York: The History Press. ISBN 9780752481241. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
McCrery, Nigel (2014). Into Touch: Rugby Internationals Killed in the Great War. Pen and Sword. ISBN 1473833213. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
Sewell, Edward Humphrey Dalrymple (1919). The Rugby Football Internationals Roll of Honour. London, Edinburgh: T. C. & E. C. Jack. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 At the outbreak of the First World War, Thompson volunteered for service in South West Africa. At the conclusion of that campaign, he responded to the call for recruits to serve in East Africa, and was drafted into the 5th Regiment of the South African Infantry.{{sfn|Sewell|1919|p=209}} In April, Thompson contracted malaria and was hospitalised.{{sfn|McCrery|2014|p=225}} The troops, who had to march hundreds of miles through difficult terrain, cutting their way through dense bush, suffered greatly from malaria and a shortage of rations.<ref name=SmutsDespatch2 />
-On 19 June, the 5th South African Infantry, under the command of Colonel J.J. Byron, was sent in pursuit of German forces, to occupy Kangata, 8 miles south of [[Pongwe]].{{efn|{{sfn|McCrery|2014}} has made a transcription error, changing Kangata to Katanga.}} They found the Germans entrenched in a concealed position in dense bush. During the firefight that ensued, Byron's forces took heavy losses, but sustained the attack until night, when the Germans retreated.<ref name=SmutsDespatch2>{{London Gazette|issue=29906|date=16 January 1917|startpage=687|endpage=702|supp=yes|accessdate=26 May 2016}}</ref> Thompson was killed in action the following day, 20 June 1916, after a bullet pierced his neck.{{sfn|Sewell|1919|pp=208-209}}
+On 19 June, the 5th South African Infantry, under the command of Colonel J.J. Byron, was sent in pursuit of German forces, to occupy Kangata, 8 miles south of [[Pongwe]].{{efn|McCrery (2014) has made a transcription error, changing Kangata to Katanga.}} They found the Germans entrenched in a concealed position in dense bush. During the firefight that ensued, Byron's forces took heavy losses, but sustained the attack until night, when the Germans retreated.<ref name=SmutsDespatch2>{{London Gazette|issue=29906|date=16 January 1917|startpage=687|endpage=702|supp=yes|accessdate=26 May 2016}}</ref> Thompson was killed in action the following day, 20 June 1916, after a bullet pierced his neck.{{sfn|Sewell|1919|pp=208-209}}
 Thompson is buried at Dar es Salaam War Cemetery (Grave 8. A. 3.).<ref name=CWGC>{{CWGC|id=899202|name=Thompson, G}}</ref> His body lies near that of his fellow countryman and teammate, Jacky Morkel, who died on 15 May 1916 in East Africa.{{sfn|Cooper|2012}}