b. 1978 Dunfermline, Scotland.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 10/01/2007 Habibollah Kalay, Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
John T “Tommo” Thompson CGC MiD
John Thomas Thompson was born in Dumfermline where both his parents were serving at the time with the Royal Navy, subsequently moving to Devon where he has resided for most of his life. He joined the Royal Marines in 1998 and completed basic training in October 1999. Having undertaken specialist training as a Heavy Weapons Anti Tanks operator he joined 40 Commando Royal Marines and deployed to Northern Ireland in 2000 as an intelligence marine in support of 40 Commando’s final Operation Banner deployment (General Service Medal and corresponding clasp). On his return from Northern Ireland, he successfully passed his Junior Command Course in 2002, gaining promotion to Corporal, and was deployed to the North Arabian Gulf on Counter Marine Interdiction Operations, boarding and securing smuggling ships.
At the commencement of Operation Telic 1 (the invasion of Iraq) on the night of 20 March 2003, Corporal Thompson deployed with Delta Company, 40 Commando R.M. from HMS Ark Royal by helicopter onto the Al Faw Peninsula as the first waves of the invasion force simultaneously deployed from shipping and across the land border from Kuwait into Iraq. Having secured nearby Petroleum pipelines, the majority of Delta Company then moved North in echelon formation towards Basra.
On 30 March 2003, as part of a 40 Commando operation to clear enemy strongholds, Delta Company was tasked to clear the town of Al Yahudiyah, on the western edge of the Company boundary. A combat team of Heavy Machine Gun and Milan Anti-Tank Weapons mounted in four patrol vehicles was ordered to proceed to the eastern edge of the town and establish a Vehicle Check Point, prior to the Company clearance operation. On approaching the town, an enemy ambush was sprung and the Combat Team came under effective enemy RPG and machine gun fire from both sides of the road. There followed an intense engagement lasting more than an hour as the enemy attempted to inflict casualties by fixing the lead elements of the Company while infiltrating into its rear with small groups of lightly armed men.
Lance Corporal Thompson was in command of the lead vehicle to advance in support of the ambushed Combat Team. Despite the oppressive hail of incoming fire, he pushed forward to stop his patrol vehicle only 200 yards short of the ambush area and immediately organised his men to lay down a large weight of suppressive fire onto the identified enemy positions. This prompt and decisive action surprised and disrupted the hitherto dominant enemy and served to regain some of the initiative, causing significant attrition and almost certainly saving the lives of some of his surrounded colleagues. Confident that his men had adequate direction, Lance Corporal Thompson then climbed on a nearby roof with his Troop Commander in order to gain a clearer view of the exact location of the pinned down troops. As they were preparing to rejoin their men, they saw three enemy armed with RPGs in an alleyway to the rear; they neutralised them with small arms fire. At about this time, an enemy RPG exploded very near to him, temporarily stunning him. Despite these considerable distractions, his focus never shifted from the task in hand and it was only minutes later that, under cover of fire from other members of the Company who had moved up to join the fight, Lance Corporal Thompson exposed himself to considerable danger by returning to one of the vehicles in the area under fire. He proceeded to turn the vehicle around and drive it back out of the danger area to safer ground, ensuring the survival of key equipment. He then returned on foot to recover a second patrol vehicle, while the remainder of the Company withdrew under indirect and direct fire.
For the above action of over 6 hours, Thompson was Mentioned in Despatches.
In November 2003 Corporal Thompson was drafted to 42 Commando Royal Marines, M Company as a Heavy Weapons section commander within a Manoeuvre Support Company and January 2004 saw him deployed to Northern Norway, where he completed the arduous Cold Weather Warfare Course (CWWC) qualifying as a UK deployable arctic and mountain warfare specialist.
Early the following year Thompson deployed to Afghanistan on Op Herrick 3 to secure ground and establish what would later become Camp Bastion. On his return from Afghanistan, Thompson completed his Jungle Warfare Tracking Instructors Course in Brunei and immediately he deployed to Exercise Long Look (New Zealand Army), assisting in the development of combined armoured infantry Tactical Training Procedures until his return to 42 Commando RM to complete his pre deployment training for deployment into Afghanistan on Herrick 5 with J Coy at Camp Garmisr.
Thompson participated in four operational deployments during Operation Enduring Freedom – the official name given by the U.S.A. for the war against global terrorism. Initially seeing action during the Maritime Interdiction Operation for Op Veritas, he subsequently deployed into Helmand for Ops Herrick 3, 5, and 12. The most notable and kinetic of all being Op Herrick 5, during which, as Heavy Weapons Attack Corporal, 3 Troop, J Coy, 40 Commando, Royal Marines, he was deployed into Helmand Province among a Company Group of exceptional Section Commanders. Thompson’s 3 Troop was a Fire Support Group (FSG) made up of 4 WMIK (Heavy Weapons platforms mounted on a stripped-down Land Rover. No doors, no windows, no armour).
J Company was based out of Forward Operation Base Price, near Geresh, approximately 75km from Camp Bastion. Conducting mobile operations (MOG Ops), they had the freedom to move almost anywhere in the Tactical Area of Operations (TAOR) and experienced over 35 major combat operations throughout the tour.
On 10 January 2007, during an operation deep in Taliban held territory near Gereshk, Thompson displayed conspicuous gallantry. The operation also required the company to conduct searches in the Taliban stronghold of Habibollah Kalay, the scene of numerous previous engagements and where the enemy had time to prepare defences. The enemy’s numbers proved to be far greater than expected and contributed to the intensity of the ensuing fight.
At first light, as the company was moving into position with Thompson’s vehicle leading as usual, they were ambushed on three sides with an overwhelming weight of fire. Nothing new for Thompson, but the remainder of the company also began to receive fire from multiple directions. Dangerously exposed and realising that the entire company was pinned down from behind him, Thompson engaged five separate firing points. He soon became the focus for the enemy and received withering and accurate fire. His dedicated actions suppressed the enemy sufficiently for the company to dismount from its protected Viking vehicles. Suffering a burst eardrum from the proximity of RPG and machine gun fire, and with his vehicle hit by numerous enemy rounds, he continued to engage the enemy despite the personal dangers.
Despite having only one functioning weapon system on his vehicle and running low on ammunition following prolonged engagements, Thompson realised that many colleagues were still dangerously exposed. Without any regard whatsoever for his own safety, he remained in the killing area, engaging the enemy at a range of only 50 metres. His utterly selfless and courageous actions allowed the company to win the firefight.
Conducting a hasty ammunition re-supply and swapping his broken machine gun, Thompson returned to the fight, yet again at the front of the company. For the remainder of the battle he provided fire support to 1 Troop as it seized a significant weapons cache. This contact was the fiercest the company had endured during the 6-month tour. That mission success was achieved and no friendly casualties were sustained was attributable to the fortitude, bravery and level-headedness of Thompson in the face of overwhelming enemy fire. He displayed gallantry, determination, outstanding professionalism and exceptional leadership skills far beyond anything expected or imagined throughout the entire operation. This particular act of bravery led to the defeat of an overwhelming number of Taliban and was executed without any thought for his own safety.
For this action, he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Thompson was then drafted to Commando Training Centre Royal Marines to assist in Recruit training and spread his knowledge and experience to the new generation of Royal Marines. In 2008, he was nominated for his Senior Command Course which he attended and passed with distinction. In March 2009 he returned to 40 Commando RM where he served in Delta Company once again and deployed back to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 12 during which time, he qualified for his Accumulated Campaign Service medal. After this tour he again returned to CTCRM as a member of the Royal Marines Young Officer training team. March 2013 he was promoted to Colour Sergeant, was awarded the Long Service Good Conduct Medal, and drafted to the Joint Counter Terrorist Training Advisory Team as technical Company Quartermaster Sergeant, supporting the U.K.’s only Global Counter Terrorism unit.
Colour Sergeant Thompson returned to 40 Cdo RM as the Unit Heavy Weapons 1 advisor where he remained until his selection to Warrant Officer Second Class in 2016 when he attended and passed his Advance Command Course prior to his appointment to Commando Logistic Regiment as Landing Force Support Squadron Logistical Task Group Sergeant Major. In January 2018 his role changed within the Regiment to that of Equipment Support Squadron Sergeant Major where he remained until an ongoing medical issue resulted in his draft to Hasler Royal Naval Recovery Centre whilst he awaited a spinal operation. Despite the success of this procedure sadly Warrant Officer Class II Thompson was unable to continue to serve within the Royal Marine Corps and was medically discharged after 23 years 6 months service.
In 2021, Thompson, now aged 43, and a single father of three, decided to make the difficult decision to sell his medal group. He sold the medals at Noonans in Mayfair on 8 December 2021 for a hammer price of £150,000.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
