John Thompson was the eldest son of Thomas and Matilda Thompson. John Thompson was born on 4th January 1894 in Magherafelt. Thomas was a coachman. The family lived in Cookstown and also in Killinchy. John Thompson enlisted in Belfast. He was apparently living in ‘Donald’ at the time. This may have been Dundonald. Rifleman John Thompson was serving with the 12th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
Further Information
John Thompson was the eldest son of Thomas and Matilda Thompson. Thomas Thompson and Matilda McKee were married on 23rd March 1893 in the district of Magherafelt.
John Thompson was born on 4th January 1894 in Magherafelt.
Family: Thomas Thompson, Matilda Thompson, John Thompson (born 4th January 1894, Magherafelt), Robert Thompson (born 13th August 1895, Magherafelt), William Thompson (born 31st May 1898, Cookstown).
By the time of the 1901 census, John was aged 7 and living with the family at house 6 in Drumshanbo Glebe, Killeenan, Kildress, County Tyrone. Thomas was a coachman.
The 1911 census lists John as age 17 living with the family at house 39 in Killinchy, County Down. John had left school and was working a letter carrier.
John Thompson enlisted in Belfast. He was apparently living in ‘Donald’ at the time. This may have been Dundonald.
Rifleman John Thompson was serving with the 12th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916. He was 22 years old.
Rifleman Thompson is buried in Hamel Military Cemetery. Hamel is a small village in France, about six kilometres north of Albert.
The CWGC record Rifleman J Thompson as the son of the late Thomas Thompson and of Matilda Thompson, of The Cottages, Ballybeen, Dundonald, Belfast.
