Private John Alfred Thompson

John Alfred Thompson was born in Montreal on 4 April 1921, the son of Percival and Emma Thompson. He spoke English and French, completed Grade 8 and commercial studies at Royal Business College, and worked in clerical, bartending and munitions-plant jobs. He was a swimming instructor at the YMCA and enjoyed boxing and hockey. He enlisted in the Canadian Army at Montreal South on 2 February 1943, service number D-139140. After basic training at Huntingdon and advanced infantry and NCO training at Farnham, he served briefly as a Lance Corporal and basic-training instructor. He returned to Private before further battle training at Debert and sailed overseas in February 1944. Thompson proceeded from Britain to Italy as a reinforcement and joined the Loyal Edmonton Regiment in May 1944. He served as an infantryman and regimental stretcher-bearer. He sustained accidental injuries in April and June, and was wounded in action on 19 October 1944, remaining on duty. His mother died that December. In March 1945 he moved with the regiment from Italy to France, later serving as Lance Corporal and Acting Corporal. He volunteered for Pacific service in May 1945 and returned to Canada in July, but the file does not establish Pacific deployment. Following further service in Canada, he was discharged as a Private at Montreal South on 17 January 1946 on normal demobilization. He had arranged work as a wool-dyer apprentice at Huntingdon Woolen Mills. Shortly after discharge he married and sought his gratuity and re-establishment credit to furnish a home. His verified wartime awards include the 1939–45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp and War Medal 1939–45. Thompson later pursued a retail-management career and became a commercial proprietor at Huntingdon. In 1962 he applied to serve as an officer with RCSCC St. Francis. His later Sea Cadet and Reserve service included officer appointments and Captain rank, ending on 1 January 1970. His wife Edith was named as next of kin in 1962. His later interests included golf, curling, bowling and coin collecting. Thompson died on 19 July 2009.

1921-04-04 — Born at Montreal to Percival V. Thompson and Emma Thompson; repeated wartime and later personal records control profile’s 1923 year and isolated 14 April copies; Montreal, Quebec.
1935 to 1936 — Grade 8 schooling and commercial training at Royal Business College; bilingual bookkeeping, typing and shorthand. Copied school dates/course lengths differ; Montreal, Quebec.
1936 to 1942 — Civilian work included labouring, truck driving, grocery counter sales, bookkeeping, bartending at Rosemere Golf Club and St. Therese Ski Lodge, and laboratory/process-testing work at DIL shell-filling plant, Bouchard; Montreal; Sainte-Therese, Quebec.
1943-02-01 — Recruiting/selection interview: English and French, YMCA North Branch swimming instructor, boxing and hockey defence; wanted Black Watch, recommended infantry rifleman. Earlier 1939 enlistment attempt recalled but reason redacted; Montreal, Quebec.
1943-02-02 — Enlisted as Private D-139140, Canadian Infantry Corps, No. 4 District Depot B Wing; single, Church of England, labourer, no previous military service, home 6063 Jeanne Mance Street; Montreal South, Quebec.
1943-02-03 — Family declaration and service will: mother Emma beneficiary/next of kin, father Percival alive and retired, one brother also helped support mother; Prudential Life insurance; Montreal South, Quebec.
1943-02-13 — Taken on strength No. 41 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre, after DD4 departure 12 February; one summary reads No. 44; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1943-03-30 to 1943-04-14 — Passed first aid and rifle tests, satisfactory allocation, still wished Black Watch; basic training completed 14 April; No. 41 CABTC, Huntingdon, Quebec.
1943-06-03 — Taken on strength A-12 Canadian Infantry Training Centre after departure 2 June; Farnham, Quebec.
1943-07-31 — Advanced infantry training completion certified; $1.50 daily pay date amended to 2 August in main ledger; A-12 CITC, Farnham, Quebec.
1943-09-03 — Completed NCO school at A-12, grading A; Farnham, Quebec.
1943-09-04 — Returned to No. 41 training centre, appointed paid Lance Corporal and employed as basic-training instructor; receiving date amended from 3 to 4 September; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1943-10-12 to 1943-10-25 — Fourteen days furlough with 50 cents/day ration allowance; Canada.
1943-11-08 to 1943-11-15 — Hospitalized at Huntingdon Military Hospital; admission explicitly corrected to 8 November, diagnosis obscured/not established; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1943-11-13 — Reverted from Lance Corporal to Private; duplicate pay/transfer entries give 14/16 November; No. 41 CABTC, Huntingdon, Quebec.
1943-11-17 — Taken on strength A-12 after operative departure 16 November; cancelled earlier 13 November transfer excluded; Farnham, Quebec.
1943-11-25 to 1943-11-29 — Special leave from 1600 on 25 November to 0100 on 29 November, ration allowance and warrant; Canada.
1943-12-02 — Mother’s next-of-kin address changed to 755 Aqueduct Street; later replaced after her death; Montreal, Quebec.
1943-12-05 — Taken on strength No. 1 Infantry Training Battalion, Training Brigade Group, after Farnham departure 4 December; battle training before overseas; Debert, Nova Scotia.
1943-12-24 to 1943-12-26 — Three days Christmas leave; Canada.
1944-01-08 — Selection summary records No. 2 Transit Camp awaiting draft; Canada.
1944-02-14 to 1944-02-16 — Transferred from Debert to Serial 599; departure/amended dates 14/16 February differ; Debert, Nova Scotia.
1944-02-16 to 1944-02-24 — Embarked Canada 16 February, overseas strength 17 February, disembarked Britain 24 February. Separate gratuity certificate uses 19 February start; Canada to United Kingdom.
1944-02-25 — Taken on strength No. 5 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit; United Kingdom.
1944-03-06 — Personnel selection: enthusiastic infantryman, wished paratrooper service; height 69.5 inches, weight 150 pounds in overseas assessment; No. 5 CIRU, United Kingdom.
1944-03-15 — Taken on strength No. 1 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit after No. 5 CIRU departure 14 March; United Kingdom.
1944-03-27 to 1944-04-11 — Embarked Britain 27 March; theatre strength 28 March, arrival/assembly 9 April and service-book Italy landing apparently 11 April. Separate administrative dates retained; United Kingdom to Italy.
1944-04-18 — Accidentally cut tip of left middle finger while helping a civilian move a log before night patrol; assessed trivial, not military duty, no inquiry or discipline warranted; Italy.
1944-04-18 to 1944-04-28 — Admitted No. 3 Canadian General Hospital for slight finger laceration, ten days. One summary associates Perth Regiment, while main records name reinforcement system/Loyal Edmonton; Italy.
1944-04-28 to 1944-05-16 — No. 1 Canadian Convalescent Depot, discharged 16 May; reinforcement X-3/X-4 movements accompany treatment; Italy.
1944-05-24 to 1944-05-25 — X-4 list, 4th Battalion, 1 Canadian Base Reinforcement Group, before regimental posting; Italy.
1944-05-26 — Taken on strength Loyal Edmonton Regiment from reinforcement X-4 list; Italy.
1944-06-02 to 1944-06-06 — Accidentally wounded 2 June, admitted No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance and No. 4 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station; X-3 list, discharged about 5 June and rejoined regiment 6 June. Injury details not stated; Italy.
1944-06-24 — Entry includes FGCM, apparently Field General Court Martial; substantive particulars redacted, no charge, finding or punishment established; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Italy.
1944-07-22 — Employed as regimental stretcher-bearer, protected under Geneva Convention 1929 while carrying out those duties; year appears 1944; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Italy.
1944-09-02 — Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp effective in detailed movement record; another copy appears 2 November; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Italy.
1944-10-19 — Wounded in action but remained on duty; no wound location supplied. Cancelled SECOND WOUND wording not treated as proof of two enemy-action wounds; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Italy.
1944-10-25 — Casualty telegram to mother Emma delivered; public casualty list followed 27 November; 6063 Jeanne Mance Street, Montreal, Quebec.
1944-12-28 — Mother Emma died; unit chaplain asked to notify him through messages 8–15 January 1945; Montreal, Quebec; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Italy.
1945-02-01 to 1945-02-23 — Next of kin changed from deceased mother Emma to father Percival, care of Mrs. W. Nixon, 6063 Jeanne Mance Street; multiple administrative order dates; Montreal, Quebec.
1945-03-05 — Lance Corporal appointment in detailed record, published 17 March; pay book gives 17 March and another main copy 5 May. Earliest detailed effective date retained; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, Italy.
1945-03-13 to 1945-03-15 — Embarked Italy 13 March and disembarked France 15 March, transfer from Central Mediterranean Force to northwest Europe; Italy to France.
1945-03-15 — Entitled to wear wound stripe; two red service chevrons recorded from 2 February; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, northwest Europe.
1945-05-16 — Signed declaration volunteering for Pacific service; 1939–45 Star, Italy Star and France and Germany Star recorded; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, northwest Europe.
1945-05-20 — Appointed paid Acting Corporal; Loyal Edmonton Regiment, northwest Europe.
1945-06-07 to 1945-06-08 — Left Loyal Edmonton Regiment through X-4/depot draft process for repatriation, receiving designation 47 CD/MD4; other abbreviations uncertain; Northwest Europe.
1945-06-12 — Flew from northwest Europe to United Kingdom for repatriation; No. 6 Canadian Repatriation Depot identified in embarkation record
1945-07-03 to 1945-07-04 — Embarked for Canada, overseas strength ended 3 July; taken on CAPF and 2nd Battalion, 1st Canadian Infantry Regiment strength 4 July. No Pacific deployment established; United Kingdom to Canada.
1945-07-11 — Disembarked in Canada
1945-07-13 to 1945-08-11 — Thirty days special leave plus two days travel, money allowance instead of rations; Canada.
1945-09-13 — Taken on strength A-21 Canadian Ordnance and EME Training Centre after CAPF battalion departure 12 September; parenthetical receiving notation uncertain; Barriefield, Ontario.
1945-11-20 — Absent without leave 0600–1900, returned same day; no visible punishment details; Canada.
1945-11-22 — Personnel-location reply places Acting Corporal Thompson at No. 48 CIBTC, St. Johns; core ledger continues A-21 and cancelled October No. 40 transfer cannot resolve intervening unit history; St. Johns, Quebec.
1945-12-01 to 1945-12-14 — Fourteen days privilege leave and ration allowance as Acting Corporal at C.O. & E.M.E. Training Centre; Barriefield, Ontario.
1945-12-14 to 1945-12-16 — Absent without leave after leave expired; times 2200 on 14 December–2359 on 16 December, source duration 2d1h45 differs from arithmetic. Disciplinary particulars redacted; Barriefield, Ontario.
1945-12-15 — Relinquished Acting Corporal appointment, reverted to Private; $1.50 pay effective 16 December; C.O. & E.M.E. Training Centre, Barriefield, Ontario.
1946-01-12 — Taken on strength No. 4 District Depot after A-21 departure 11 January; isolated receiving 17 December entry contradicted by operative January movement; Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-01-17 — Normally and honourably discharged as Private on demobilization, CARO/RO1029(5)(c)(i); General Service Badge 623687, $100 clothing allowance, 30 days rank pay. Release address 755 Aqueduc Street; No. 4 District Depot, Montreal South, Quebec.
1946-01-17 — Counselling: arranged wool-dyer apprenticeship at Huntingdon Woolen Mills; laboratory experience considered suitable, laboratory helper alternative. DVA and National Employment Service referrals; Montreal South, Quebec; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1946-01-28 — Service will dated 3 February 1943 returned by registered mail; 755 Aqueduc Street, Montreal, Quebec.
1946-02 approximately — Recently married, as stated in February/March letters; wife not named in these letters; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1946-02-03 to 1946-02-08 — Acknowledged will receipt and asked to revoke it because mother/beneficiary Emma deceased; Army advised revocation now personal provincial-law matter; 214 Chateauguay Street, Huntingdon, Quebec.
1946-02-26 to 1946-03-27 — Repeated gratuity enquiries after recent marriage, sought furniture and re-establishment credit for home; addresses care of Mrs. M. Cruickshank; 214 Chateauguay Street, Huntingdon, Quebec.
1946-03-28 to 1946-04-03 — Army reported no completed gratuity application, sent fresh form; applications signed 1 and 3 April; Huntingdon, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario.
1946-04-08 to 1946-04-20 — Nil dependants allowance certified; completed application received, award calculated and forwarded for payment, first cheque expected shortly. No amount supplied in extracted evidence; Huntingdon, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario.
1946-08-16 to 1946-08-23 — Civil Service Commission sought service/character report for employment candidacy; Army reply confirmed honourable discharge and service theatres; Ottawa, Ontario.
1950 — Medal dispatch card date reads day 16, month unclear, year 1950; Defence entry crossed out despite later verified statements listing it; Canadian Army medal administration, location unstated.
1962-06-01 — Veterans Affairs statement of wartime service issued; marginal Huntingdon address 92 Chateauguay Street; Ottawa, Ontario; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1962-06-22 — Applied as Sea Cadet Sub-Lieutenant/Supply Officer, RCSCC St. Francis; commercial proprietor at 92 Chateauguay, wife Edith next of kin. Grade 10, business administration and executive merchandising studies, senior retail experience; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1962-11-02 to 1970-01-01 — Later Sea Cadet/Reserve service, separate from WW2: Sub-Lieutenant from 2 November 1962; Lieutenant/Captain seniority 28 July 1965 in parallel records; Cadet Instructors List conversion 1 January 1968; released 1 January 1970; RCSCC 183 St. Francis, Huntingdon, Quebec.
1980-05-15 to 1980-08-27 — Requested service statements for personal records, Army and Cadet Services papers supplied after backlog delay; address P.O. Box 909; Huntingdon, Quebec.
2009-07-19 — Died on this date, as recorded in existing CWVMP profile; Place not stated.