Thompson, Kemble Alexander McNeill (Driver, b.1919 - d.2017)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX44767 Driver Kemble Alexander McNeill Thompson, 2/3 Motor Ambulance Convoy, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia, Malaya and Thailand, 1941-1945.

This collection consists of six wallets of material relating to Driver Kemble Alexander McNeill Thompson, including letters from Driver Thompson to his family, letters from his family to Driver Thompson, documents, and newspaper clippings.

Wallet 1 of 6 – Contains two folders of correspondence relating to Driver Thompson.
Wallet 1 of 6, Folder 1 of 2 consists of 14 letters [including associated envelopes], two telegrams and three envelopes from Driver Thompson to his wife, Mrs Enid Margaret Thompson (née Worth), dated between 14 November and 28 December 1941. These letters cover the period of Driver Thompson’s training in Dubbo, New South Wales, just after his marriage to Enid, and his embarkation. In his letters, Driver Thompson writes about his mild punishment for going absent without leave to get married, plans for future leave in Sydney, preparations for deployment, participating in training exercises, receiving letters from family members, driving practice, the longing to see his wife, guard duties, being posted to 2/3 Motor Ambulance Convoy, embarkation, and life on board the ship.
Wallet 1 of 6, Folder 2 of 2 consists of four letters [including associated envelopes] and one telegram from Driver Thompson to Mrs Enid Thompson, written in January and February 1942, and three letters from the Australian Military Forces to Mrs Enid Thompson, dated between 1 June and 13 September 1943. These letters cover the period of Driver Thompson’s service with 2/3 Motor Ambulance Convoy in Malaya and capture as a prisoner of war of Japan. In his letters to his wife, Driver Thompson writes about life on board the ship, arriving in Malaya, transporting wounded soldiers, his feelings about the local environment, receiving letters from home, smoking heavily, and Japanese attempts to demoralise the defenders of Singapore. He also responds to news from home and sends his love. The letters from the Australian Military Forces informs Mrs Thompson that Driver Thompson was missing, and then discovered to be a prisoner of war of the Japanese.

Wallet 2 of 6 – Contains one folder of correspondence relating to Driver Thompson consisting of 16 letters [including associated envelopes], two telegrams, and one envelope from Driver Thompson to Mrs Enid Thompson, one telegram from NX72120 Lance Corporal Patrick Joseph Kempnich to Mrs Thompson, and one telegram from the Army Records Unit to Mrs Thompson. These items of correspondence are dated between 15 August and 30 October 1945, and cover the period of Driver Thompson’s liberation and return to Australia. In his letters, Driver Thompson writes about longing for news from home, having supplies airdropped into his camp, improved living conditions after liberation, looking forward to being reunited with his family, moving to a repatriation camp in Bangkok, shopping, dining with a Chinese family, attending shows and concerts, receiving letters from home, flying to Singapore, seeing films, waiting for his turn to be sent home, and returning to Australia by boat. The telegram from Lance Corporal Kempnich, dated 20 October 1945, informs Mrs Thompson that Driver Thomson was in Singapore and sends his love. The telegram from the Army Records Unit, dated 30 October 1945, informs Mrs Thompson of Driver Thompson’s arrival time in Sydney.

Wallet 3 of 6 – Contains two folders of correspondence relating to Driver Thompson, Mrs Thompson and their family.
Wallet 3 of 6, Folder 1 of 2 consists of six letters [including associated envelopes] and two telegrams from friends, family and associates to Mrs Enid Thompson, dated between 20 March 1941 and 1 February 1942. This correspondence includes letters of recommendation for employment, messages of congratulations for the marriage of Driver Thompson and Mrs Thompson, and letters mentioning the worsening situation in Malaya and worry for Driver Thompson. This folder also includes one bow of blue fabric [significance currently unknown].
Wallet 3 of 6, Folder 2 of 2 consists of 26 letters [including associated envelopes], one telegram, and one envelope from family members to Driver Thompson, dated between 14 November 1941 and 31 December 1942. Writers of these letters include Driver Thompson’s wife, Mrs Enid Thompson, Driver Thompson’s sisters, Mrs Laurel Bramble and Mrs Heather Barclay, and Driver Thompson’s mother, Mrs Marian Worth. In their letters, Driver Thompson’s family write about his recent marriage, attempts to see him before his embarkation, receiving letters, social outings with friends, their health, family news, holidays, and recreational activities. They also send their love and good wishes.

Wallet 4 of 6 – Contains two folders of correspondence relating to Driver Thompson and his family.
Wallet 4 of 6, Folder 1 of 2 consists of 28 letters [including associated envelopes] from family members to Driver Thompson, dated between 26 January and 28 December 1943. Writers of these letters include Driver Thompson’s wife, Mrs Enid Thompson, Driver Thompson’s sister, Mrs Laurel Bramble, and Driver Thompson’s mother, Mrs Marian Worth. In their letters, Driver Thompson’s family write about their health, news regarding family and friends, recreational activities, missing Driver Thompson, volunteering for the Red Cross, and receiving word from Driver Thompson. They also send their love and good wishes.
Wallet 4 of 6, Folder 2 of 2 consists of 23 letters [including associated envelopes] from family members to Driver Thompson, dated between 28 January and 28 December 1944. Writers of these letters include Driver Thompson’s wife, Mrs Enid Thompson, Driver Thompson’s sister, Mrs Laurel Bramble, and Driver Thompson’s mother, Mrs Marian Worth. In their brief letters, Driver Thompson’s family write about their health, daily activities, and family news. They also send their love and best wishes.

Wallet 5 of 6 – Contains one folder of correspondence relating to Driver Thompson, his family and his associates consisting of 41 letters [including associated envelopes], four telegrams and one envelope from family, friends and associates of Driver Thompson to Driver Thompson. Writers of these letters include Driver Thompson’s wife, Mrs Enid Thompson, Driver Thompson’s sisters, Mrs Laurel Bramble and Mrs Heather Barclay, Driver Thompson’s brother-in-law, Mr Victor Barclay, Driver Thompson’s mother, Mrs Marian Worth, and David Thompson’s former colleagues at the Sydney General Post Office. In their letters, Driver Thompson’s family write about news relating to family members and friends, their health, the end of the war, daily activities, missing Driver Thompson, hearing that he was safe, and looking forward to their reunion. They also send their love and best wishes.

Wallet 6 of 6 – Contains two folders of material relating to Driver Thompson.
Wallet 6 of 6, Folder 1 of 2 consists of miscellaneous items relating to Driver Thompson. It contains:
1x Form of Service for Church Parades of the Australian Military Forces.
2x Photographs, thought to depict Mrs Enid Thompson, [date unknown].
1x Australian Red Cross Identity Certificate.
1x Advice card, titled “Life’s a Gamble”.
1x Australian Red Cross Society information card, New South Wales Division, Sydney, New South Wales.
1x The 8th Division Association information card, Sydney, New South Wales.
1x Application for Travelling Concessions, c December 1945.
1x Insurance notice from The Australian Provincial Assurance Association Limited to Driver Thompson, c December 1945, [includes associated envelope].
1x Plasticised fabric bag, thought to be used by Driver Thompson for storing documents.
Wallet 6 of 6, Folder 2 of 2 consists of seven newspaper clippings relating to Driver Thompson and Australian prisoners of war of the Japanese, dated between 1941 and c 1945.

Driver Kemble Alexander McNeill Thompson enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 13 September 1941 and underwent training at Dubbo, New South Wales. On 13 November 1941 he married his wife, Enid Margaret Worth, and shortly after embarked for overseas service with 2/3 Motor Ambulance Convoy. With this unit, Driver Kemble served in Malaya, but was taken as a prisoner of war when the Japanese captured Singapore in February 1942. As a prisoner, he worked on the Burma Thailand Railway. Driver Thompson was liberated in August 1945, and discharged on 23 January 1946. correspondents with Driver Kemble Thompson include his mother Marian Worth and his two sisters, Laurel Bramble and Heather Barcley. Many of the early letters written by Kemble to his wife Enid detail his training in Dubbo, New South Wales. The document his affection for her and his anxiety over their separation. The collection also comprises correspondence sent by relatives to Kemble while a prisoner of war. He was able to hide the letters and keep them until his return to Australia at the end of the war.