Joseph Sylvester Vinson THOMPSON

Constable Joseph Thompson joined the Queensland Police on 24 March 19013 at the age of 23. He was stationed at Petrie Terrace, Roma Street, Cunnamulla, Eromanga and Bell stations over his seven years of service before joining the A.I.F. in July 1915. Private Thompson embarked aboard the HMAT Seang Bee A48 on 21 October 1915 as part of the 25th Infantry Battalion. On arrival in Egypt the A.I.F. was reorganised by creating 16 new Battalions, each containing several experienced soldiers from the Gallipoli campaign. Thompson was posted to ‘D’ company of the 9th Battalion where he was promoted to Corporal. His company left Alexandria and arrived in Marseilles on 5 April 1916, and then travelled by train to Belgian Flanders. Corporal Thomson was killed in action on 22 July 1916 during the early stages of the Battle of Pozieres. Almost all his company became casualties and those who survived were forced to retire. Thompson was 31 years old.