Difference between revisions of "Wilfred Arthur Thompson"
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Thompson was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 31 December, 1910.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> | Thompson was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 31 December, 1910.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> | ||
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| + | He was appointed to the {{UK-Glasgow|f=t}} of the South Atlantic Squadron as first lieutenant on 17 September, 1912. | ||
==Great War== | ==Great War== | ||
| − | Thompson was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1914.{{NLDec18|p. | + | Having been repeatedly recommended for promotion by {{UK-Glasgow}}'s Captain Luce, Thompson served in the [[Battle of the Falklands]] in ''Glasgow'', and was mentioned in despatches and recommended after the battle by Vice-Admiral [[Frederick Charles Doveton Sturdee, First Baronet|Sturdee]]. Accordingly, Thompson was promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 31 December, 1914.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> |
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| + | On 14 August, 1915, after some work as an Acting Interpreter in Spanish, Thompson embarked on a steamer for home, from Montevideo, arriving home on 4 September. He was tasked with examining the papers of the Chilean ship ''Orion'' and completed this work on 16 September. He was appointed to the {{UK-Mystic|f=c}} that day, to assume command upon her commissioning. Very soon thereafter, he transferred to {{UK-Martin|f=p}}. On the night of the 3rd/4th January, 1916, he grounded his destroyer upon entering Holyhead and was cautioned to be more careful in future.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> | ||
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| + | 1916 saw him in a succession of destroyer commands in {{UK-Nerissa}}, {{UK-Forester}} and finally {{UK-Lance}} at the end of the year when he received an appointment in command of the {{UK-Surprise|f=c}}.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> A unit of the [[Harwich Force]]'s {{UK-DF|10}}, Thompson was destined to be the destroyer's only captain. She saw action when he commanded her on 23 January, 1917 in action against German destroyers.{{UKNavalOpsIV|pp. 74-8 and index}} He was mentioned in despatches for his unstinting service as he "distinguished himself on many occasions with the Harwich Force."<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> | ||
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| + | Thompson survived the mining and loss of {{UK-Surprise}} along with her consorts {{UK-Tornado}} and {{UK-Torrent}} on 23 December, 1917.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> | ||
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| + | Thompson was appointed in command of the {{UK-Roberts|f=t}} on 22 January, 1918.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> | ||
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| + | On 12 August, 1918, he left ''Roberts'' and was appointed to ''President'' to join the [[Naval Intelligence Division (Royal Navy)|Naval Intelligence Division]].{{NLDec18|p. 870}} | ||
| − | + | ==Post-War== | |
| + | Thompson's work with the D.N.I. ran to 28 November, 1920 when he commenced work inside the Admiralty in connection with the Naval Mission to Romania and was granted permission to study Portuguese in his own time.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> | ||
| − | Thompson was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 27 April, 1926.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> | + | Thompson was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 August, 1925 and was awarded the Star of Roumania (Commander) in recognition of his services to their government, receiving unrestricted permission from the Admiralty to accept and wear the device. He was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on the Retired List on 27 April, 1926.<ref>Thompson Service Record. {{TNA|ADM 196/46/70.|D7603577}} f. 70.</ref> |
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
Revision as of 10:13, 21 July 2016
Captain (retired) Wilfred Arthur Thompson, R.N., Retired (27 April, 1881 – 12 March, 1932) served in the Royal Navy.
His first name is spelled as "Wilfrid" in some Navy Lists.
Life & Career
Thompson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1902.[1]
Thompson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1910.[2]
He was appointed to the light cruiser Glasgow of the South Atlantic Squadron as first lieutenant on 17 September, 1912.
Great War
Having been repeatedly recommended for promotion by Glasgow's Captain Luce, Thompson served in the Battle of the Falklands in Glasgow, and was mentioned in despatches and recommended after the battle by Vice-Admiral Sturdee. Accordingly, Thompson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1914.[3]
On 14 August, 1915, after some work as an Acting Interpreter in Spanish, Thompson embarked on a steamer for home, from Montevideo, arriving home on 4 September. He was tasked with examining the papers of the Chilean ship Orion and completed this work on 16 September. He was appointed to the "M" Class destroyer Mystic that day, to assume command upon her commissioning. Very soon thereafter, he transferred to H.M.S. Martin. On the night of the 3rd/4th January, 1916, he grounded his destroyer upon entering Holyhead and was cautioned to be more careful in future.[4]
1916 saw him in a succession of destroyer commands in Nerissa, Forester and finally Lance at the end of the year when he received an appointment in command of the "R" Class destroyer Surprise.[5] A unit of the Harwich Force's Tenth Destroyer Flotilla, Thompson was destined to be the destroyer's only captain. She saw action when he commanded her on 23 January, 1917 in action against German destroyers.[6] He was mentioned in despatches for his unstinting service as he "distinguished himself on many occasions with the Harwich Force."[7]
Thompson survived the mining and loss of Surprise along with her consorts Tornado and Torrent on 23 December, 1917.[8]
Thompson was appointed in command of the monitor Roberts on 22 January, 1918.[9]
On 12 August, 1918, he left Roberts and was appointed to President to join the Naval Intelligence Division.[10]
Post-War
Thompson's work with the D.N.I. ran to 28 November, 1920 when he commenced work inside the Admiralty in connection with the Naval Mission to Romania and was granted permission to study Portuguese in his own time.[11]
Thompson was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 1 August, 1925 and was awarded the Star of Roumania (Commander) in recognition of his services to their government, receiving unrestricted permission from the Admiralty to accept and wear the device. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on the Retired List on 27 April, 1926.[12]
See Also
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by Ernest L. Cardale |
Captain of H.M.S. Hasty 1 Mar, 1907[13] |
Succeeded by Robert H. B. Hammond-Chambers |
| Preceded by Sandford G. R. Nevile |
Captain of H.M.S. Griffon 19 Apr, 1909[14][15] – 22 Mar, 1910[16][17] |
Succeeded by George W. Taylor |
| Preceded by Claud F. Allsup |
Captain of H.M.S. Martin Oct, 1915[18] |
Succeeded by Ambrose M. Peck |
| Preceded by Montague G. B. Legge |
Captain of H.M.S. Forester Mar, 1916[19] – Jan, 1917[20][Inference] |
Succeeded by Austen G. Lilley |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Surprise Jan, 1917[21] |
Succeeded by Ralph M. Mack |
Footnotes
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ Naval Operations. Vol. IV. pp. 74-8 and index.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1918). p. 870.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ Thompson Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/46/70. f. 70.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1908). p. 324.
- ↑ The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 323.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 323.
- ↑ The Navy List. (January, 1910). p. 323.
- ↑ Taylor Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/48. f. 438.
- ↑ The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 396.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 394m.
- ↑ The Navy List. (December, 1916). p. 394m.
- ↑ The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398c.
