Percy Langhorn Thompson

Key Information

Name: Percy Langhorn Thompson

DoB: October 16, 1886

Regt: Durham L.I.,

DoD: June 11, 1917

Academic Career: CGS 1904-06

Biographical Information:

  • Family Background:

    Percy was the seventh child and fourth son of Robert Thompson and Jane Ann Langhorn. His father was an accountant. Older siblings included Isabella, George, Robert, Thomas, Ethel, and Laura and there was a younger brother, John. They lived at 1, Howard Place, very close to the school.

  • Academic Record:

    Percy was in the school cricket team in 1904 and 1905; the Rugby team in 1904 and 1905; and  football team in 1906.

  • War Service:

    Percy enlisted as a private in the 17th Middlesex Battalion (Public Schools Battalion) on April 30 1915. He travelled to France from Folkestone on April 221916. He was in Etaples until May 4 when he joined a French Mortar Battalion. On October 19 1916 he was sent back to England to join the Officer Cadet Unit. He joined the Battalion in Oxford on December 1 1916. He was later gazetted (April 25 1917) as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry.

    In June 1917 the Durham Light Infantry was holding the line at Loos between Boyau 51 to Cameron Alley. A Coy Right Front, C Coy Left Front, B Coy in the village line and D Coy in Reserve battalion HQ at Tosh Keep. Percy Thompson was recorded as killed in action on June 11 1917, during the tour of duty in the trenches between June 9 and 18 . While his death is listed in the War Battalion Diary, the specific cause was not given. There was a raid during this time on German trenches on the 15th but he was reported killed by this time. There were patrols out before this, so that is a possible reason but if so, it would perhaps have been stated as he was a 2nd lieutenant.

    A letter from his father concerning his effects reads: “I am having them sent to my son’s residence, as at the present time, his mother could not bear the sight of these his effects coming home.” These effects included a wrist watch, a bracelet, a ring, a cheque book, a note case, and a half franc note which was a souvenir.

  • Battalion:

    Durham Light Infantry.

  • Other:

    When he joined up Percy was working as a Solicitor.

    He spent 28 days in hospital in 1915 having suffered from acute appendicitis.

    The family had Psalm 121 verse 5 “The Lord is thy keeper” inscribed on his gravestone

  • Sources:

    1. a)            Carlisle School Memorial Register 1264-1924
    2. b)            Census:1911; 1901 RG 13/4867; 1891 RG12/ 4286; 1881 RG11/5156;
    3. C)           National Archives, Kew
    4. d)War Battalion Diary
    5. e)Information supplied by members of the Great War Forum