Private Harold R Thompson

Harold Roy Thompson was born in Ontario, Canada, on 19 October 1926 to Derrick and Violet Constance Florence (Richards) Thompson. Tragically Violet died on 14 September 1930 in York, Ontario, Canada and Harold (Roy) was then sent on the Canadian Pacific ship “Duchess of Atholl” to Liverpool, arriving, age 4, on 24 December 1930, and thence to Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, to live with his Grandmother, Edith C Gleadle-Richards, who then officially adopted him.

He enlisted in the General Service Corps and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Thompson successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 134 from 18 September to 5 October 1944. His course report stated, ”Quiet, worked hard, slightly nervous but confidence increased with jumps”. He was posted to 13th (2/4th Battalion The South Lancashire Regiment) Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, and took part in Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte Thompson was killed in action on 24 March 1945, aged 18, whilst taking part in the daylight parachute drop into Germany as part of the Rhine Crossing during operation Varsity and was given a field burial at Hamminkeln, Germany and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany, on 12 November 1946.

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