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Thread: “I'm so sorry to trouble you, as I know you must have a tremendous amount of work to do, but I should be grateful if you could let me know if I am entitled to anything, as when my husband volunteered, he gave up everything, and I have managed to do with a little...(1/13)
...private money I had, as the firm of solicitors my husband worked for of course are paying me nothing.” This is an extract from a letter written to the War Office by Mrs Nora Kathleen Thompson, the widow of 2Lt John Cecil Caster Thompson, in June 1915. The letter went... (2/13)
...on to explain that she needed money to settle her husband's bill for army kit. Thompson was just one of 524 men and women commemorated by the CWGC who were to die #OTD in 1915 and his death, like so many others, had left his family in straitened times. John was 33...(3/13)
...when he died. He had been born into a wealthy family and he was, himself, quite wealthy. But in 1915 he was missing and no one knew whether he was dead or alive. As such, the courts would not grant his widow probate. Thompson’s father, Alderman John Thompson Sr, was... (4/13)
...a renowned master builder who had worked on every Cathedral in England during his long career and had also served four terms as the Mayor of Peterborough. His son, John Jnr, had attended the King’s School, Peterborough before moving to Uppingham School and Pembroke... (5/13)
...College, Cambridge to complete his education. Graduating with a BA in 1903, John went on to train as a solicitor before, in Feb 1907, being appointed as the Managing Clerk of a firm of solicitors in Fleet Street, London. In Aug 1907 John married Nora and in Oct of... (6/13)
...the following year the couple were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Audrey. On 5 Aug 14 John resigned his position and joined the Artists Rifles as a private soldier. He was posted to France on 26 Oct 14 and commissioned on New Year's Day, 1915. Pre-selected for... (7/13)
...promotion to Temp Lt, to take effect on 28 Jan 15, he was already attached to 1st Scots Guards when, on 25 Jan, following an enemy bombardment and trench raid on the SG posns around Cuinchy, nr Bethune, he was officially posted as ‘missing’. Strenuous enquiries were... (8/13)
...made through the German Red Cross to determine whether or not he had been taken prisoner but, initially at least, these were unsuccessful. Eventually a statement was received from the German authorities, signed by a British POW (Pte M Gutman, SG), to the effect that... (9/13)
...he had seen John lying apparently dead in the trenches from a gunshot wound to the head. This would be the evidence that would finally unlock Nora's access to probate. In the meantime, Nora's initial plea for help had at least resulted in a small allowance for her... (10/13)
...and Audrey. When probate was finally granted in June 1916, it yielded the sum of £5,108 8s 8d. Nora never remarried and John, whose body has never been found, is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial. (11/13)
This is what I have gleaned about him from open sources on the Internet and the books on my shelves. (Note: All sources are acknowledged and, where possible, I have tried to contact copyright holders in advance. (12/13) https://www.evernote.com/l/AQTbmP7103FPILYTk_1W-LgwqLqNK3Iy7xM
However, if you are unhappy that I have infringed your rights please DM me so that I do not repeat that mistake in future.) (13/13)
