Private John Alfred Thompson
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 673
- Unit
- 16 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Died of Wounds
- Place of death
- Gallipoli, Turkey
- Date of death
- 29 April 1915
- Age
- 24
- Plaque number
- M482
- Co-located plaques
- M482A - PTE Percy Knight
- Dedicated by
- Family on 18 November 2017
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private John Alfred Thompson was born in January 1891 near Halcombe, on the north island of New Zealand.
He was one of eight sons and one daughter, who died before reaching her first birthday, born to William Henry and Elizabeth Mary Thompson.
After attending school at Ruahine state school, which was near Palmerston North, he came to Western Australia with his brother George to work in the timber mills.
Later, he was employed as a train engine driver at Argyle in the south-west of Western Australia.
He enlisted at Helena Vale in September 1914 and was attached to 16 battalion.
Following initial training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp, the Western Australian part of the unit was moved to Victoria where the rest of the unit from South Australia was training.
The 16 battalion embarked for overseas on boxing day 1914 and arrived in Egypt in February 1915. The unit there became part of the 4th infantry brigade and part of the New Zealand and Australian division.
The 4th brigade landed at Anzac Cove late in the afternoon of 25 April 1915.
John was wounded in the fighting which ensued over the initial weeks of the landing and was evacuated to HMHS Galeka.
Private John Alfred Thompson, service number 673 of 16 Battalion, died on board HMHS Galeka of wounds received at Gallipoli, Turkey on 29 April 1915. He was 24 years of age.
His name appears on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale province, Turkey.
The plaque is to be placed alongside that of his relative, Private Percy Knight of 48 Battalion.