Draft:Angus Eric Methven Sinclair-Thomson

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Draft:Angus Eric Methven Sinclair-Thomson
File:Angus Eric Methven Sinclair-Thomson.jpg
Lt. Col. A. E. M. Sinclair-Thomson D.S.O, c.1929.
Born(1880-05-24)May 24, 1880
United Kingdom
Died(1961-05-23)May 23, 1961
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
BranchBritish Army
Service years1899–1919
RankLieutenant-Colonel
UnitEssex Regiment
Commands1st Battalion, Essex Regiment
Conflicts
  • Second Boer War
  • Battle of Paardeberg
  • First World War
  • Gallipoli campaign
  • Sinai and Palestine campaign
Awards
  • Distinguished Service Order
  • Mentioned in despatches (four times)
  • Chevalier, Légion d’Honneur

Lieutenant-Colonel Angus Eric Methven Sinclair-Thomson DSO, (24 May 1880 – 23 May 1961) was a British Army officer of Scottish heritage who served in the Second Boer War and the First World War. He fought, and was wounded, at Paardeberg in 1900 and throughout the Gallipoli campaign in 1915, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and later held senior staff appointments in Egypt, Palestine, and Scotland. After retiring from the regular army in 1931, he became secretary of the Essex Territorial Army Association and subsequently served for many years as Deputy Lieutenant and clerk to the Lieutenancy of Essex...[1]

Early life

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Sinclair-Thomson was born on 24 May 1880, the son of Dr William Sinclair-Thomson and Jessie Methven Cox, daughter of George Addison Cox. The youngest of four sons (Lister, Hamilton, John Gilroy and Angus), he also had twin sisters born when he was two, Laura Kathleen and Jessie Sheila.[2] He was educated at Epsom College[3] and he later studied in France and Germany.[4]

Military career

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Second Boer War

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Sinclair-Thomson was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment from the militia, at age 19, in 1899.[5] He served in the operations around Colesberg in January 1900, at the Relief of Kimberley, and in the Orange Free State.

He fought in the Battle of Paardeberg (17–26 February 1900) and was wounded on 18 February.[6] He later took part in operations in the Transvaal (30 November 1900 – 31 May 1902) and Cape Colony, receiving the Queen’s Medal with five clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps.[2][7]

His service, along with that of his brother Lister (G. A. L. Sinclair-Thomson. Maj. Suffolk Regiment), is also recorded in The Muster-Roll of Angus and in the Army List.[8]

After the war ended in June 1902, the 1st Battalion was transferred to Bangalore, as part of the Madras command[9].

First World War

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He was promoted to Captain on 7 May 1909[10], and Sinclair-Thomson served as adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment from 1909 to 1912.[4]

At the outbreak of the First World War he was appointed to the War Office. He later joined the 29th Division as Staff Captain and Brigade Major. He served throughout the Gallipoli campaign[11], including the landing from the SS River Clyde at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915, and the later evacuations at Suvla and Helles.[12]

He was twice mentioned in despatches, created a Chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur, and awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1915..[13][14][4] He was promoted to Major on 12 January 1916[15].

Sinclair-Thomson served in Egypt and Palestine during 1916–1917[16] and he was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in 1917.[12]. By November 1918 he was serving as a General Staff Officer, 1st Grade (GSO1), at Scottish Command Headquarters in Edinburgh.[2][17]

From 1920 to 1923 he served as General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2) on the Inter-Allied Commission of Control in Berlin. In 1927 he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and given command of the lst Battalion of The Essex Regiment[18][19][20][21][22][23]. In 1931, he retired from the Army[24].

Later career

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His connection with the Army did not cease with his retirement in 1931, for he was in that year appointed secretary of the Essex T.A. Association[25][26]. This post, which at first the quickening pace of rearmament, and later the demands of war, made an arduous one, he held until 1945.

Sinclair-Thomson was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the county in 1932, and from 1933 to 1953 was clerk to the Lieutenancy[1].

Family life

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On 6 July 1912 he married Rachel Catherine Ingram (1883–1961), daughter of Walter Feilde Ingram and Catherine Louisa Helen Sclater. They had three children - Peter Angus, Rachel Catherine and Jessie Eve[1][27][28]

File:Grave of Lt. Col. A. E. M. Sinclair-Thomson D.S.O. D.L. and his wife Catherine Rachel in St Andrew’s Church, Sandon, Essex, CM2 7RQ.jpg
Grave of Lt. Col. A. E. M. Sinclair-Thomson D.S.O. D.L. and his wife Catherine Rachel in St Andrew’s Church, Sandon, Essex

Rachel Sinclair-Thomson died on 16 May 1961, and Angus Sinclair-Thomson died a week later on 23 May 1961.[29]

They were buried together in the churchyard of St Andrew’s Church, Sandon, Essex (CM2 7RQ). His obituary noted his long service to Essex and his close ties to his local community.[2]

Legacy

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Sinclair-Thomson was remembered in Essex for his long service to the county’s Territorial Army organisation and for his two decades as clerk to the Lieutenancy. His obituary described him as a dedicated and widely respected figure in local civic life.[1].

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b c d {Debrett’s Baronetage, Knightage, and Companionage – 1921. Pages 1945–1946
  3. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Harts Annual Army List 1905. Page 303 Listed as Angs Eric Methven Thomson 2nd Lieut. 15 Nov 1899 Lieut. 18 Apr 1900 and Page 304b Para. 42
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  12. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ With Allenby's Crusaders [1923, British Army. By John More. Pages: 175, 179, 181, 199
  17. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ^ The publication “Essex Units in the War 1914-1919. The Essex Militia Vol.4, Page xvii.”
  19. ^ The Essex Regiment 1929-1950 by Colonel T.A. Martin M.B.E. Pages 3 and 18 - The 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, Nov 1929 - under the command of Lieutenant Colonel A. E. M. Sinclair-Thomson, D.S.O.
  20. ^ The Essex Regiment Camp at Mytchett, Camberley 1929-1950 by Colonel T.A. Martin M.b.E.1929 Camp at Mytchett, Camberley, with rare picture of all Essex Regiment, Commanding Officers
  21. ^ National Archives. Medal card of Sinclair Thomson, A E M Corps: Essex Regiment/Staff Rank: Major/Temporary Lieutenant Colonel
  22. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  25. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ^ Who’s Who, 1938, Page 3100
  27. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  28. ^ Who’s Who 1928, p. 2749
  29. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Category: Second Boer War Category: Gallipoli campaign Category: Essex Regiment

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