| John Herbert Oliver-Thompson was the son of Henry and Alice Marian Thompson. John was born on 10th March 1896 in Liverpool.
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| John Herbert Oliver-Thompson attended Dublin University (Trinity College) Officers Training Corps.
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| While attending Trinity College Dublin, he resided for two years with his uncle, Rev Thomas Fisher, at the Rectory, Knockloughrim, County Derry.
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| He received his commission from Trinity College Dublin Officer Training Corps in 1915, became captain in 1916, and became major in February 1918. He was one of the youngest majors in the British Army.
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| John Oliver-Thompson served for a time with the South Staffordshire Regiment.
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| Major John Herbert Oliver-Thompson was mentioned in Despatches.
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| Acting Major John Herbert Oliver-Thompson was serving with the 40th Company of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) when he was killed in action on Thursday 21st Mar 1918. He was 22 years old.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 27th March 1918: Major J H Oliver-Thompson
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| The death is announced from the War Office of Major J H Oliver-Thompson, Division Machine Gun Battery, who was killed in action on 21st March. During his university career in Trinity College Dublin he resided for two years with his uncle, Rev Thomas Fisher, at the Rectory, Knockloughrim, County Derry, where great regret is felt that such a brilliant career is cut short. He received his commission from Trinity College Dublin Officer Training Corps in 1915, became captain in 1916, and only recently got his majority, since his return from leave four weeks ago. He was one of the youngest majors in the British Army, having only attained his 22nd birthday on 10th March. He was a native of Liverpool, and his brother, Lieutenant Harral Oliver Thompson, is serving with the Manchester Regiment.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 27th May 1918: Officers Mentioned in Despatches
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| The fifth instalment of Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch, submitting names deserving of special mention, has been published in the London Gazette. The list contains the following names of northern interest:- Captain J H Oliver-Thompson, Machine Gun Corps, nephew of Rev Thomas Porter, The Rectory, Knockloughrim, County Derry. This officer was killed in action on 21st March last.
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| Major Oliver-Thompson has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. The Arras Memorial is in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, in the western part of the town of Arras. It commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7th August 1918.
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| Major John Herbert Oliver-Thompson is also commemorated on the WWI Masonic memorial in Termoneeny Parish Church, Knockloughrim and on the Roll of Honour in Curran Masonic Hall.
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| Major John Herbert Oliver-Thompson is also commemorated on the Trinity College War Memorial.
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| His brother, Lieutenant Harral Oliver-Thompson, served with the Manchester Regiment. It is believed he survived the war.
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| The CWGC record Major John Herbert Oliver-Thompson as the son of Henry and Alice Marian Thompson, of 51 Chestnut Grove, Bootle, Liverpool.
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