THOMPSON, Frederick

Frederick Thompson was the son of Mr D. and Mrs E Thompson of 19 St John Street, Kates Hill, Dudley. He volunteered for the Worcester Territorials and served in the 1/7th Battalion. They crossed to France in March 1915 and spent the rest of the year gaining front line experience. Their first major action came in the second phase of the 1916 Battle of the Somme. The key to the centre of the battle area was the long struggle for the fortified village of Ovillers and it was eventually taken by the Worcesters with other units in a fierce struggle on the 19th July. The many casualties included Private Frederick Thompson who was 18 years of age and is commemorated on the Thiepval, Dudley and St. Johns, Kates Hill, Memorials.