b. ? d. ?
DATE OF AM ACTION: 14/11/1916 English Channel.
Very little is known about Peter Thomson other than his actions in the English Channel. He was presented with his Albert Medal by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 13th April 1918.
AM CITATION:
On the 14th November, 1916, the steamship ” Polpedn,” of London, was torpedoed in the English Channel, and rapidly began to sink. The crew had just time to get into the starboard lifeboat and cut the painter, the steamer’s bridge-deck being then level with the water line, when the lifeline was found to be fastly coiled round Mr. Thomson’s leg. Realising the danger of the boat being capsized, Mr. Thomson at once jumped overboard, thus freeing the boat, and allowing her to be pushed away as the vessel foundered. While under water Mr. Thomson managed to free his leg from the lifeline, and he was afterwards picked up by those in the boat. Mr. Thomson ran the greatest possible risk, of losing his life, and by his self-sacrifice undoubtedly prevented serious loss of life.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: EDINBURGH CASTLE, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.
