The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (980) Private John Leadbetter Thomson, 28th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Troy Clayton, the story for this day was on (980) Private John Leadbetter Thomson, 28th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

980 Private John Leadbetter Thomson, 28th Battalion, AIF
KIA 3-6 November 1916

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private John Leadbetter Thomson.

John Thomson, known as “Jack”, was born on 18 May 1893 to William and Margaret Thomson. His father, William, had been born in Scotland and came to Australia as a young man, working in Broken Hill, Port Pirie and Western Australia as a carpenter. His longest employment was in Mount Barker, South Australia.

John was born and grew up in Mount Barker and was educated at the local public school, later going on to study at Hahndorf College. There he won a scholarship to Roseworthy Agricultural College, and spent three years studying before going to Western Australia to take up farming.

Jack Thomson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force from Northam in Western Australia in May 1915. He underwent a period of training in Australia before leaving in June for active service overseas with the 28th Battalion. Thomson was first sent to Egypt to continue training in the desert, finally embarking for Gallipoli in early September 1915.
By the time Private Thomson arrived on Gallipoli, the major offensives were over, although the peninsula was still a dangerous place to be. Snipers and shrapnel caused significant casualties among the Australians, and disease was rife. After nearly two months there, Private Thomson fell sick with the flu and general debility, and had to be evacuated to Egypt to recover. By the time he was better, the rest of the AIF had been evacuated as well, and training resumed in the Egyptian desert.

Private Thomson arrived in France to fight on the Western Front in March 1916. Shortly after his arrival he became sick again, and was discharged to light duties on base details, and later at the Anzac Kit depot, before being sent to England.

In July 1916 he was granted furlough and was able to travel around England and Scotland. He rejoined his battalion in France in September 1916, and six weeks later was involved in an attack near the French village of Flers. He was later reported missing.

As part of an investigation into Private Thomson’s fate, a Private Slocum submitted information. He was a friend of Thomson’s from the same district in South Australia, and had gone round to enquire after his friend after the battle. He had heard that Thomson had fallen into a shell-hole, and while he was waist deep in mud trying to extricate himself he had been shot through the chest. His body was not recovered at the time due to the heavy fire, and was lost in later fighting.

Today Jack Thomson is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. He was 23 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private John Leadbetter Thomson, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section