1868 Private THOMPSON William John

36th Australian Infantry Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement 

William was born near the town of Rocky Ponds, Queensland. A farmer, living near Galong, he enlisted at Cootamundra on 16 March 1916, aged 40. His next of kin was his Mother, Mrs Christina McGrory, of Demondrille Siding, Murrumburrah. 

William embarked on the HMAT A15 Port Sydney, from Sydney, on 4 September 1916 arriving in Plymouth on 29 October 1916. William proceeded to France from Folkestone on the Princess Victoria on 19 December 1916 arriving Etaples on 23 December. He marched into 36th Battalion on 18 January 1917. 

William was reported missing in action, Belgium on 12 October 1917. A Court of Enquiry held on 4 April 1918 determined William had been killed in action in the field near Passchendaele on 12 October 1917, however there was no record of where he was buried.

William’s Medals, the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory were issued to his Mother, Christina, in January 1923. On 8 July 1925 the Officer in Charge of Base Records wrote to William’s Mother telling her they had found his remains: 

“Dear Madam, With further reference to the report of the regrettable loss of your son, the late 1868 Pte WJ Thompson, 36th Battalion, I am now in receipt of advice that the Imperial War Graves commission has been successful in recovering the remains of the late soldier which have since been interred with every measure of care and reverence in the Aeroplane Cemetery Plot 6 Row D Grave 10 situated at Ypres Belgium.” 

On 10 August 1925 “a metal disc obtained together with a match box cover” belonging to William were returned to his Mother