Staff Sergeant Alexander McCrindle Thompson

Alexander McCrindle Thompson was born at Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland, on 31 January 1904. He came to Canada in 1927 and settled in the Ormstown area, where he worked as a chauffeur and truck driver. He married Sarah in 1926. Thompson enlisted at Montreal on 15 July 1940 with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada and transferred to the Canadian Provost Corps the following year. He rose through the ranks to Staff Sergeant and spent much of his service in Newfoundland, including detention-barracks and instructional duties, with additional service in the North Atlantic and on the high seas. He received the British Empire Medal (Military Division) in recognition of outstanding wartime service. Thompson was discharged at Montreal South on 15 February 1946 and returned to Ormstown. He died on 7 August 1960. He was survived by his wife Sarah, a son Martin and five daughters, and was interred in the Field of Honor at Forest Lawn.

1904-01-31 — Born
1926-06-03 — Married Sarah
1927-04-19 — Immigrated to Canada
1940-07-15 — Enlisted as Private, 1st Battalion Black Watch
1941-04-11 — Transferred from Black Watch to Canadian Provost Corps / No. 6 District Depot
1941-06-27 — Promoted Acting Sergeant with pay
1941-09-27 — Confirmed Sergeant
1941-11-11 — Promoted Acting Staff Sergeant with pay
1942-02-26 — Tested and qualified Driver Class III
1942-08-01 — Confirmed Staff Sergeant
1943-09-03 to 1943-10-03 — Attended A-30 instructional course; final result 49%, failed
1944-01-08 to 1944-01-11 — Granted four days leave plus deferred pay
1944-04-22 — Volunteered as blood donor at field blood bank
1944-06-21 — Volunteered as blood donor at field blood bank
1945-02-10 — Daughter Alexandria McCrindle Thompson born
1945-03-21 — Posted/attached to No. 69 Military Detention Barracks
1945-10-31 — Sea time / high-seas service commenced
1946-01-03 to 1946-01-23 — Hospitalized for right-knee contusion after slipping
1946-01-21 — Army congratulatory letter sent to Sarah Thompson regarding British Empire Medal
1946-02-07 — Struck off strength of No. 69 Military Detention Barracks for discharge
1946-02-14 — DVA post-discharge orthopaedic follow-up arranged for tender right-foot callus
1946-02-15 — Discharged as Staff Sergeant to return to civil life on demobilization
1955-03-23 — Replacement War Service Badge issued; 1939-45 Star request declined because service outside Canada was Newfoundland
1960-08-07 — Died
1960-08-17 — Funeral service and interment in Field of Honor, Forest Lawn