b. c.1883 Stirling, Scotland. d. 25/09/1962 Stirling, Scotland.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 21/10/1905 Stirling Railway Station, Scotland.
John W Thomson AM
John was born in c.1883 and after schooling, he joined the Post Office as a Boy Messenger subsequently working his way up the ladder of promotion to postman, head postman and assistant inspector. He was also a keen sportsman, enjoying golf, bowling and football. He married Margaret Stevenson. In 1908, he joined the Territorial Army and served throughout WWI as a Staff Sergeant in the Army Service Corps with 51 (Highland) Division, later moving to the 47 (London) Division as a Warrant Officer Class II. He retired from the TA in 1929, having been awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War, Victory and Territorial Efficiency Medals (the latter in 1922). In addition to this, he was a Freemason, being a Past Master of Lodge Stirling Royal Arch No 76, a life member of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Stirlingshire, a member of Stirling Rock Chapter No 2 and of the Preceptory of Greyfriars. He died aged 79 in Stirling on 22nd September 1962.
AM CITATION:
On the night of Saturday the 21st October 1905, while Thomson was on duty at the Stirling Railway Station, his attention was called, by an outcry, to the fact that a man was lying on the metals of the down main. An engine was approaching rapidly, and was not more than 30 yards distant, when Thomson, without hesitation, sprang to the man’s assistance, and both men disappeared from view as the engine passed by. The railway officials and passengers on the platform who witnessed the occurrence thought that both men had been run over, especially as another engine passed by almost at the same moment, on the next line of rails. Thomson had, however, managed to drag the man on to the six-foot way. The rescued man was of heavy build, and was quite unable to help himself, being in a state of intoxication; he was unhurt, while Thomson only received cuts about the face.
BURIAL LOCATION: ST THOMAS CEMETERY, CAMBUSBARRON, STIRLING, SCOTLAND.
SECTION E, ROW B, GRAVE 9.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: STIRLING SMITH MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY, STIRLING.
