THOMSON, Albert Norman Charles
| Service Number: | 8271 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 December 1913 |
| Last Rank: | Leading Seaman |
| Last Unit: | HMAS AE2 (Submarine) |
| Born: | Albury, NSW, 24 May 1888 |
| Home Town: | Hastings, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Painter's Assistant |
| Died: | Motor Accident, Hastings, Vic., 29 May 1922, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Dec 1913: | Enlisted Royal Australian Navy, Leading Seaman, 8271 | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Feb 1922: | Discharged Royal Australian Navy, Leading Seaman, 8271 |
World War 1 Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement Signalman, 8271, HMAS AE2 (Submarine) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of John and Lucie M A THOMSON - his mother died at his birth and his father took him back to Scotland.
Husband of Florence THOMSON
Of Ferndale, Hastings, Vic.
On leaving school he was employed as a painter's assistant.
He joined the Royal Navy 03 February 1905 for 12 years Continuous Service Engagment
Drafted to RAN 01 December 1913
Lent from Royal Navy
Served on Submarine 01 January 1915 - 30 June 1915
Prisoner of War in Turkey
He made two escape attempts whilst Prisoner of War. In 1917 he escaped with Stoker 1st Class Michael Williams from a railway camp but Williams lost heart and they both returned. He made a second attempt in July 1917 with Able Seaman Gwynne - formerly of Submarine AE2 - but captured from Submarine E7. They were at large for some time before being captured. After this second attempt he was returned to the camp at Belemedik where he remained until the end of the War.
He was approved transfer to the RAN as from the date of expiry of his first Continuous Service Engagement on 23 May 1918 and was granted forty seven days accumulated leave. Thomson returned to London by Christmas Eve 1918.
He volunteered for further service with the RAN and was loaned for two years .
Sailed for Australia with wife and family per 'Zealandia' 27 March 1920.
He and his family settled in Hastings Vic.
He was released from the RAN ON 28 February 1922 as 'time expired' and is reported to have died in Australia on 29th May 1922 when the bus he was driving overturned. At a sharp bend half a mile from Hastings the tyre of a front wheel of a charabanc burst. The vehicle turned over on its' side and the 15 passengers (naval men attached to the Naval Depot at Flinders) were thrown to the road. The driver Albert Norman Charles Thomson was killed instantly. He was thrown from the car with terrific force. The men had been to Melbourne for the weekend, and were returning to work. If the tyre had blown out on a straight road probably nothing would have happened by the tyre burst just as the car was rounding a very sharp bend. The car overturned within a few seconds after the passengers heard the report of the tyre bursting.