| Thompson | Henry Neville | | Major | THOMPSON, HARRY NEVILLE, Major, was born 15 March 1861, son of Reverend Mungo Neville Thompson, Rector of Clonmany, Donegal, and Charlotte Blake, of Castlegrove, County Galway. He was educated at Armagh Royal School and Trinity College, Dublin (BA, MB, BCh), and joined the Army Medical Service 2 August 1884; became Surgeon, 1884, and Major, Royal Army Medical Corps, 2 August 1896. He served in the Nile Expedition, 1898 (Medal and Khedive's Medal), and throughout the South African War, attached 16th (The Queen's) Lancers (He was a member for life of the 16th Lancers' Mess, and of the 30th [East Lancashire] Mess); was present at the Relief of Kimberley; took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Karee Siding, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); in Orange River Colony and Transvaal, west of Pretoria (May to 29 November 1900), including actions at Wittebergen (1 to 29 July); also in Cape Colony, north of Orange River; again during operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony 30 November 1900 to October 1901 (Despatches [London Gazette, 15 November 1901]; Queen's Medal with five clasps and King's Medal with two clasps). He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26 June 19O2]: "Henry Neville Thompson, MB, Major, Royal Army Medical Corps. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia, Warrant and Statutes were sent to the Commander-in-Chief in India; presented at Delhi, on the Durbar Parade, 27 December 1902. He received the Coronation and Delhi Durbar Medals, 1903; became Lieutenant Colonel 2 August 1904; received King George's Coronation Medal, 1911, and became Colonel 17 November 1913, being then appointed DDMS, Scottish Command. Colonel Thompson served in the European War. He became ADMS, 2nd Division, BEF 4 August 1914; ADMS, 48th Division, BEF 5 May 1915; DDMS, 6th Army Corps, BEF, British Armies in France, 29 May 1915; DMS, 1st Army, British Armies in France, 21 July 1917 to April 1919, becoming Surgeon General 21 July 1917, and Major General 26 December 1917. He was created a CMG in 1916, a CB, 1917, and a KCMG in 1918. He was mentioned five times in Despatches, and was awarded three foreign Orders, viz.: Grand Officer, Military Order of Avis (Portuguese); the French Croix de Guerre, and the American Distinguished Service Medal. Major General Sir H N Thompson became, in April 1919, DMS, British Army of the Rhine.
KCMG, CB (m), DSO, Queens Sudan, QSA (5) RofK Paard Joh D-H Witt (Maj), KSA (2) (Maj, DSO, RAMC), 1914 Star and Bar, BWM, Victory Medal with MID (Maj-Gen), 1902 Coronation, 1903 Delhi Durbar, (Maj), 1911 Delhi Durbar (Lt Col, DSO), Croix de Guerre (France) with 2 palms, Distinguished Service Medal (USA), Khedives Sudan (Maj, RAMC). Regimental Museum, Aldershot 1993.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Army Medical Corps |
