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| Name: |
Robert (Bobbie) THOMPSON |
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| Casualty No.: |
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Ranks: |
Sergeant Air Gunner |
Initials: |
R |
Service No.: |
1593634 |
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| Date of Birth : |
- |
Place of Birth : |
Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
Age at Death: |
22 |
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| Unit: |
49 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. |
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| Place Enlisted: |
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| Place of Residence: |
Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Home Address: |
1 Wardle Terrace, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Previous Address: |
|
| Civilian Employment: |
Putter at Clara Vale colliery. |
| How Died: |
Killed in action |
| Date of Death: |
Sunday 25th June 1944 |
| Place of Death: |
Somme, France. |
| Battle/Campaign: |
Undertaking air operations. |
| Locally Commemorated: |
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Emma Colliery Memorial, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
St John's Church, Roll of Honour, Greenside, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
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| UK Commemorated: |
- |
| Overseas Commemorated: |
- |
| Buried: |
Poix De Picardie Churchyard, Somme, France. |
| Decoration and Medals: |
1939-45 Star. Air Crew Europe Star. War Medal. |
| Photographs: |
1 |
| Service Records: |
No |
| Death Notice/Obituary: |
Newcastle Evening Chronicle, Roll of Honour, 25th June 1945.
Blaydon Courier, 16th March 1945.
Newcastle Journal, 23rd March 1945.
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| Family Details: |
Son of John Edwin and Winifred Thompson, of 1 Wardle Terrace, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Brothers: Wilfred, John, Peter, and Len.
Sister: Mary.
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| Notes : |
Robert was educated at Emmaville and Ryton schools. He was a keen sportsman and he represented both the school team and Crawcrook Boys Brigade at football.
His father, John, worked as a butcher at the Co operative Stores, Barmoor, and was a veteran of the Great War, serving in Egypt and Salonika.
Robert had six uncles who had also served in the Great War; Charles, George, Thomas, Wilfred, Ike and Robert (two of the uncles were killed by an explosion in Australia shortly after the war).
A brother, Leading Signalman Wilfred Thompson, had been awarded the Polish Cross and Diploma for his actions at Narvik, Norway. Another brother, Trooper John Thompson, was serving with the Reconnaissance Corps and took part in the D Day Landings.
Robert enlisted in the RAF on 21st April 1943.
Robert was on board Lancaster 111 LM572 that took off from RAF Fiskerton, Lincolnshire, at 22 11 hrs, 24th June 1944. Their mission was to bomb the V1 flying bomb site at Pommerval, Somme, France. The plane crashed at Poix on the 25th, resulting in the deaths of Robert, Sergeant D.A. Wilson and Pilot Officer J.F. Judd. The four remaining crew members survived the crash but were taken as prisoners of war. They were, Flying Officer G.B.L. Taylor, Sergeant J.E.Sidebottom, Sergeant D. Reid, and Sergeant E.A. Milligan.
After the war, a French woman wrote to Robert's parents to say that she will tend to the graves of the airmen. For many years this woman did indeed tend to the graves, often placing flowers next to the headstones. Her name remains unknown.
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| Sources Used: |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register.
Information from family member.
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