Joseph Neil Thomson

The Battalion formed in Glasgow on the 26/02/1915 by the Lord Provost and City as a Bantam Battalion. In June 1915 they moved to Masham and came under command of the 106th Brigade, 35th Division. On the 01/02/1916 they arrived in France. In early 1917 they ceased to be a Bantam Battalion. On the 23/09/1917 they absorbed HQ and two Squadrons of dismounted Glasgow Yeomanry and retitled as the 18th (Glasgow Yeomanry) Battalion. Joseph was killed by a shell splinter on duty during the last full month of the war. The Division were involved in the Battle of Ypres, 28th September-' 2nd October 1918 and the Battle of Courtrai, 14th - 19th October 1918. These was phases of the Final Advance in Flanders, 28th September - 11th November 1918 : The British Second Army and Belgian Army combine and finally break out of the Ypres salient. More ground is gained in the opening day than in the entire Passchendaele offensive of a year before. The offensive continues through fighting in the Courtrai area and eventually well across the Scheldt. The Division took part in 3 phases of the Final Advance. See Newspaper clipping for a letter to his parents from Lieutenant McCoy who was in charge of Joseph's platoon. He was reburied in Dadizeele New British Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Joseph's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Joseph's Pension Records x2 and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. Josephs grave inscription reads "THEY MISS HIM MOST WHO LOVED HIM BEST".