Award MiD L/Sjt. A.E.N.M. Thomson, 156th Parachute Battalion (Arnhem)

Award Mentioned in Despatches 3055376 L/Sjt. Thomson, Albert Edward Nicol McMilan 156th Bn parachute Regiment, 1st Airborne Division

THOMSON was dropped at OOSTERBEEK on 6th September 1944[sic], where he was later admitted to hospital with severe wounds.

When the hospital was captured by the enemy, he was removed toward EMERICK [Emmerich]. Although wounded, THOMSON and two companions jumped from a moving truck and succeeded in walking through the German lines to the Rhine, where they separated.

THOMSON held out for 18 days before being found by the S.S. in a house at GEISBEEK.

After capture THOMSON was imprisoned in several camps in GERMANY and in April 1945 he was liberated by Allied forces.
WO 373/101/303

Name: Albert Thomson.
Date of Birth: 23/08/1918.
Place of Birth: England.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Lance Sergeant.
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: [Army Air Corps].
Service Number: 3055376.
Date of Capture: [unspecified].
Theatre of Capture: [unspecified].
Camp Name/Number: Stalag XII A Limburg.
PoW number: 93589.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 0.
Number of Fingerprints: 0.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 1.
WO 416/361/56

 

The two companions were Thomas Lorne and William Ross, both Privates from 156 Parachute Bn. They became separated from Thomson shortly after escaping and were recaptured on Operation Pegasus 2 on 18/19th November 1944. According to Lorne the ambulance they escaped from was moving too fast to jump so they hung on to the rear, sliding along the road, until “It was opportune to let go”. As a result of this their wounds were re opened. They were fired on by a guard in a following ambulance but he missed and they managed to slip through the crowds of refugees on the road into adjoining woodland.