Lieutenant Colonel Francis Vere Thompson

Francis Vere Thompson was born at Prahran, Victoria, on 24 April 1893 to parents William Henry Thompson and Josephine Vere Thompson (née Parker), with two brothers and a sister. Thompson undertook his education at a public school in England and in 1907 the family emigrated to Australia arriving in Brisbane in August.

At the time of his enlistment Thompson was a builder and contractor.

Thompson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne on 9 October 1914 and was attached to the 13th Battalion. He married Hilda Flora Dale at Essendon, Victoria, on 21 December 1914, the day before he embarked for overseas aboard the troopship Ulysses. During the voyage Thompson participated in a concert on 23 January 1915, singing “The Lost Chord”.

On 25 April Thompson was posted to Gallipoli. During June, he was appointed as a signalling officer. On 21 August, Thompson received gunshot wounds to the left eye and thigh and was evacuated to Moudros on the island of Lemnos on 23 August. From there he was sent to England for treatment at the 3rd London General Hospital, Wandsworth, on 12 September. As a result of his wound, Thompson suffered the loss of his left eye. He was assessed as not fit for general service for 3 months and embarked for Australia aboard the troopship Runic on 7 November 1915. His appointment was terminated on 2 March 1916. He was later mobilised for service from 3 March 1916 to 21 November 1918 but remained in Australia.

In December 1920 Thompson was transferred to the reserve list and in March 1921 was assigned to the 35th Battalion, Citizen Military Forces. From July 1921, he was attached to the 1st Infantry Brigade as a captain. In November 1926 Thompson was appointed to command the 1st Field Artillery Brigade; he took a field artillery course in October 1927 and remained until December 1930. From then until May 1934 Thompson was on the unattached list of officers. From 28 May 1934 Thompson was appointed to command 13 Heavy Battery, where he remained until September 1939 and was promoted to major. Thompson completed a senior officer’s course in February 1939.
Thompson enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force at Newcastle, New South Wales, on 9 November 1939 as a major. He served as commanding officer at various times with the 2, 8 and 11 Garrison Battalions from November 1939 until February 1941. At this time, he was appointed commanding officer of Troops, Prince of Wales Hospital, until 23 March 1941. In July 1941 Thompson was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In January 1942 he was transferred to command 20 Garrison Battalion. He was discharged on 13 November 1943 and placed on the reserve of officers list.

Thompson had one daughter, Marjorie Vere, born 1917, and twin sons, Francis Vere and Ronald Vere, born 12 July 1918. Electoral records reveal Thompson was employed as a works officer at Newcastle, New South Wales, from 1930 to 1934 and as an architect until 1937. In 1949 Thompson was living at Rose Bay, New South Wales, and from about 1954 he was living in Pymble, New South Wales, employed as an architect throughout this period.

Thompson’s son, Francis Vere (junior), enlisted in the Australian Army in August 1942 and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel at retirement. In November 1952 Thompson junior was awarded the Australian Efficiency Medal and in April 1961 he received a further award of the Australian Efficiency Medal. In the same awards in 1961 Francis Vere Thompson (senior) was awarded the Australian Efficiency Decoration.

Francis Vere Thompson died at Sydney on 10 May 1985 at the age of 92.