James Noel Thomson, pictured here as a captain during World War I.

Major General James Noel Thomson CB DSO MC (December 1888 – 3 May 1979) was a British Army officer who served during World War I and World War II.

Military career

Born in December 1888, James Noel Thomson was educated at Fettes College,[1] and later attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, from where he was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in 1909.[2]

He served in France from 9 September 1914 mostly on the Staff during World War I, earning the Military Cross and, in 1917, the Distinguished Service Order, in addition to being mentioned in dispatches three times.[3][4]

The war over due to the Armistice of 11 November 1918, Thomson remained in the army during the interwar period, where, from 1919 to 1920, he served as adjutant at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which was followed shortly after by his attendance at the Staff College, Camberley from 1920 to 1921. Imperial Defence College in 1932.[4]

As part of Iraqforce (Paiforce), Major-General Thomson commanded the Indian 6th Infantry Division during Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941.

He retired a Colonel (Honorary Major General) 14 August 1946[5]

Command history

  • 1934–1937: Assistant Master-General of Ordnance, India
  • 1938–1941: Brigadier General Staff, Northern Command, India
  • 1939: Aide-de-Camp to the King
  • 1941–1943: General Officer Commanding, 6th Indian Infantry Division, Iraq and Persia
  • 1943: Deputy Master-General of Ordnance, India
  • 1946: Retired

Family

James was the son of Sarah Elizabeth née Stuart and James Thomson, Iron founder of Old Machar. He married in 1929 at Shimla Lorna Carmen Buck (1902–?) daughter of Anne Margaret née Jennings (1874–?) and Sir Edward John Buck CBE (1862–1948) a Special Correspondent of Reuter's Press Agency and author of 'Simla, Past and Present'.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Smart 2005, p. 308.
  2. ↑ "No. 28282". The London Gazette. 24 August 1909. p. 6447.
  3. ↑ The Half-Yearly army List January 1933
  4. 1 2 Smart 2005, p. 309.
  5. ↑ London Gazette 13 August 1946

Bibliography

  • Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.
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