A GREAT WAR MILITARY CROSS GROUP TO LIEUTENANT THOMPSON DLI.

A GREAT WAR MILITARY CROSS GROUP TO LIEUTENANT THOMPSON DLI. Awarded for a Trench Raid. Military Cross unmade as issued Pair correctly named 2.Lieut J R Thompson Defence Medal Officer Territorial Decoration dated 1942. Condition GVF ( edge bruise to MC) John Ridley Thompson was born in Sunderland in 10th August 1888. He was educated at Bede School and Durham University. Thompson was a member of the OTC at having joined in May 1915. He signed on for short service on 9th August 1916 as an Officer Cadet Thompson was commissioned at a Second Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry (Territorial) on 23rd November 1916. He was posted to France on 5th January 1917 with the 9th Bn and won the Military Cross with them. The award was for a night trench raid on 4th March 1917 to the North East of Ablaincourt. The citation published in the London Gazette on 26th April 1917; 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a raiding party. He led his men in a most gallant manner, inflicted many casualties on the enemy and captured six prisoners' He was presented with the Military Cross at Buckingham Palace in 1918. Thompson remained with the Bn until October 1917 when he was posted back to Durham University O.T.C. In 1919 he was transferred to Sheffield University OTC and also worked there as a Lecturer. He relinquished his commission in the territorials in 1938. He was reappointed in 1940 and awarded the Officer Territorial Decoration in 1942. He passed away in North Yorkshire in 1981.