Thompson, Charles (Charlie)
Rifleman
No. 10302, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Wednesday 25 August 1915 (aged 18)
Buried:
Ramparts Cemetery, Belgium (Grave B. 24)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Newtownards and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
Charles Thompson was born on 19 May 1897 in Mill Street, Newtownards and he was the third son of Charles and Agnes Thompson (nee Kelly) who were married on 11 July 1889 in First Newtownards Presbyterian Church. Charles Thompson from Newtownards was a son of Samuel Thompson, a labourer. Agnes Kelly from Newtownards was a daughter of William Kelly, a labourer.
The Thompson family lived in Newtownards, in Circular Street, Mill Street, Frederick Street and at 15 Back Shuttlefield (behind Robert Street).
Charles Thompson Senior worked as a labourer and he and Agnes had at least seven children:
William (born 28 April 1890 in Shuttlefield, Newtownards)
Anna (Annie, born 10 April 1892 in Circular Street, Newtownards)
John (born 14 May 1895 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Charles (born 19 May 1897 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Samuel (born 8 May 1900 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Agnes (born 24 June 1903 in Mill Street, Newtownards)
Catherine (born 4 March 1906 in Frederick Street, Newtownards)
The children were baptised in First Newtownards Presbyterian Church.
Before he joined the Army in 1913, Charlie Thompson worked as a smoother in a calico print-works. He enlisted in Newtownards, served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles and was attached to the Machine Gun Section.
Rifleman Charlie Thompson (No. 10302) was 18 and he had been in the fighting line for three months when he was killed by enemy shellfire on 25 August 1915.
After Rifleman Charlie Thompson was killed, one of his comrades in the Machine Gun Section, Rifleman Adam Tate (No. 10345), wrote to Charlie’s father. Adam Tate was also from Newtownards and he and Charlie had worked together in the same print-works before joining up. In his letter Adam Tate related how he had been talking to Charlie just before they both ‘got hit at the same time’.
Charlie Thompson was killed and Adam Tate was wounded.
Rifleman Charles Thompson (No. 10345) was buried in Ramparts Cemetery, Belgium and he is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial.