Horace Brockbank Thompson

In memoriam

ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT SECOND LIEUT THOMPSON H.B.

Second Lieutenant Horace Brockback Thompson was Killed in Action on the 2 4th.April 1917 , Aged 27, while servin in the 7th.Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment. B.A. Son of the Rev. Jacob and Amy Beatrice Thompson, of The Rectory, Grafton Regis, Stony Stratford, Bucks. Horace was awarded the Military Cross for Gallantry which was announced in the London Gazette of the 3rd.March 1917. His citation reads; 'For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his men in the face of heavy fire over the captured trench, and took up a position in readiness to meet a possible counter-attack. Later, although wounded, he took out a patrol and obtained most valuable information'. The 7th.Btn., official War Diary entry for the 24-4-1917 reported; Our bombardment continues and enemy retaliated during day. The operations took place between DOIRAN LAKE and P5 and 4 1/2. The 79th Bde (3Bns) attacked from the lake to PETIT COURONNE. The 78th (2Bns) 05 1/2 and 06 and Bde (2Bns) of 22nd Div on the left. The attack took place at 2145hrs. D Coy on left attacked Z42 Z43. C Coy Y15 and Y16 and A Coy Z40 and Z41. C and D Coys took their objectives in spite of encountering a heavy barrage. A Coy did not move forward on account of the heavy barrage at point K. C and D Coys held their captured positions and started consolidation, but having run out of bombs and had 3 Lewis guns destroyed were forced to retire in face of a heavy counter attack. The Bns of 79th Bde were unsuccessful in capturing their objectives and the order to retire to our trenches was given at 0430hrs. The BNs of 22nd Div captured their objectives, succeeded in holding and consolidating in spite of heavy counter attacks. The barrage put up by the enemy was extremely heavy. We had the following casualties killed CAPT D.S. CURREY, 2Lt G.H. DAY, missing 2Lt H.B. THOMPSON MC , wounded CAPT J.B. MARKS, 2Lts C.W. JOHNSON, P.J. WILLIAMS, B.P. REILLY, Y.R. WATTS and Lt S.J. DALE slightly wounded to duty. Casualties of OR 245.

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