Alpin Erroll Thomson
Commander (retired) Alpin Erroll Thomson, D.S.C., R.N. (14 May, 1893 – 6 March, 1960) served in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Australia, the son of retired civil service Alpin Thomson. The younger Thomson would become an international rugby player and a first-class cricketer.
Thomson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 May, 1916.
On 11 August 1916 he grounded the paddle minesweeper Hurst and was cautioned to be more careful in future. On 7 October, he was reportedly injured in a motor vehicle accident and would be in an Edinburgh infirmary for about three weeks. Some shore service was required while he healed fully, and on 16 February, 1917 he was ready for action and was again appointed in command of Kempton.
Thomson would earn a D.S.C., in which it was note that when Kempton was lost to a mine under his command on 24 June, 1917, Thomson did everything possible to save the ship and men.
In 1922, Thomson suffered some lumbago and his drinking was called into suspicion. Periodic reports were called for, but these proved routine and satisfactory before being discontinued in 1924.
Captain Noble of H.M.S. Barham noted in 1923 that he did not consider his physical training specialist Thomson a good officer, as "his general [illeg] is disappointing" and that he "[h]as a slovenly appearance & does not take enough interest in any of his work. He is not a good example to the younger offrs. either ashore or afloat. I am glad to get him out of the ship for the above reasons. There is no doubt this offr. has it in him to do good work if he would only choose to."
Thomson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 May, 1924.
In the mid-to-late 1920s, Thomson became an aerial observer. He reverted to general service in 1931.
Thomson was placed on the Retired List at his own request at the rank of Commander on 21 September, 1936.
World War II
Thomson contributed his minesweeping experience, briefly becoming Commander, Minesweepers at Dover vice Simson from 17 January through 29 February, 1940. He was swiftly sent back to the Retired List on 31 March, 1940.
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Kempton 7 Jun, 1916[1] – 1 Dec, 1916 |
Succeeded by Alpin E. Thomson |
| Preceded by Alpin E. Thomson |
Captain of H.M.S. Kempton 1 Mar, 1917 – 24 Jun, 1917[2] |
Succeeded by Vessel Lost |
| Preceded by William Q. McKeown |
Captain of H.M.S. Melton 5 Jul, 1917[3] – 23 Aug, 1918 |
Succeeded by F. C. Guy St. Clair |
| Preceded by New Command |
Captain of H.M.S. Tring 30 Aug, 1918[4] – 25 Sep, 1919 |
Succeeded by Charles H. Daniel |
| Preceded by F. C. Guy St. Clair |
Senior Officer, Sixth Fleet Sweeping Flotilla 30 Aug, 1918 – 25 Sep, 1919 |
Succeeded by ? |
| Preceded by Raymond B. Stewart |
Captain of H.M.S. Oakley 25 Sep, 1919[5] – 20 Jan, 1920 |
Succeeded by ? |
Footnotes
