Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : 2Lt

Army Number : 11704

Unit : 7th Bn, 3rd Bn

Biography :

Home address given as Whissendine, Leicestershire. Alfred Thompson served as a Private in 7th Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment in the 110th Brigade during World War One, entering France on 29.7.1915. He reached the rank of Lance Sergeant. After undergoing training at No. 8 Officer Cadet Bn from 7.12.1917, he was commissioned 2Lt in the Regiment on 29.5.1918, joining 3rd (Special Reserve) Bn, and was posted to Russia, where he served in the British Secret Service as an interpreter for the Russian Imperial Army.
He relinquished his commission on 18.12.1920. He lived at Rectory Farm, West Deeping. He graduated from Litchfield College with a degree in languages. He spoke Russian, German, French and English. He moved to Calgary (Alberta, Canada), Peace River country and Chilliwack (British Columbia) as a professional gardener. He married Bertha Silla Thompson and lived in Kelowna and Westbank, BC where he was renowned for his involvement in garden clubs and judging at flower shows. He was a member of the Peachland branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and a member of the Westbank Volunteer Fire Brigade in its early years.
He died in 1992, aged 95 years.
There is a paper file on him in The National Archives (file ref: WO 374/68096).

Date of Birth : 29.6.1896

Place of Birth : Rothwell, Northants

Date of Death : 11.2.1992

Place of Death : Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Civil Occupation : Professional Gardener

Period of Service : 1914-20

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : France and Flanders, England, Russia