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.
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
D82618
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Provost Corps
Battalion:
Canadian Provost Corps
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
36 years 5 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
42 years
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
56 years 6 months
Country Born:
Trade or Calling:
Chauffeur
Next of Kin:
Sarah Thompson, Wife, Ormstown, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Ormstown, Quebec
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
Height:
5 ft 8.0 in / 173 cm
Weight:
162 lbs / 73 kg
Chest:
38.5 in / 98 cm
Expansion:
3.5 in / 9 cm
Marital Status:
Not Specified
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Canada
Place of Discharge:
Montreal South, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Discharged at Montreal South on 15 February 1946 under Routine Order/CARO 1029 para. 5, to return to civilian life on demobilization. Final rank was Staff Sergeant, Canadian Provost Corps. His intended post-service address was Ormstown Station, Box 5, Huntingdon County, Quebec.
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
2041 days in service
Buried at:
Forest Lawn, Field of Honor
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Staff Sergeant |
Canadian Provost Corps |
Army |
Canadian Provost Corps |
|
|
|
| Confirmed Staff Sergeant; final/discharge rank. |
| WW2 |
Acting Staff Sergeant |
Canadian Provost Corps |
Army |
Canadian Provost Corps |
|
|
|
| Acting Staff Sergeant with pay. |
| WW2 |
Sergeant |
Canadian Provost Corps |
Army |
Canadian Provost Corps / Branch Detention Barracks |
|
|
|
| Confirmed Sergeant. |
| WW2 |
Acting Sergeant |
Canadian Provost Corps |
Army |
Canadian Provost Corps / Branch Detention Barracks |
|
|
|
| Acting Sergeant with pay. |
| WW2 |
Private |
Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada |
Army |
1st Battalion |
|
|
|
| Initial rank. |
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
British Empire Medal (Military Division) |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
War Service Badge, General Service Class |
|
|
|
|
Service Chronology
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
Notes
Before enlistment Thompson had worked in farming and as a herdsman, stationary engineer and truck driver/chauffeur. He completed schooling in Galston, Scotland, and immigrated to Canada in April 1927. Personnel assessments described him as alert, dependable, conscientious and well suited to instructional and NCO duties. On discharge he had arranged employment as a light-delivery-truck driver and planned to remain in Ormstown.
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
Born at: Ayrshire, Scotland, Jan 31, 1904
Alexander McCrindle Thompson BIRTH 31 JAN 1904 • Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland DEATH 7 AUG 1960 • Vancouver British Columbia, Canada
Request confirmation number EA2026_0171708
Additional Service Notes
Enlisted 15 July 1940 with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada and transferred to the Canadian Provost Corps in 1941. He rose from Private to Acting Sergeant, Sergeant, Acting Staff Sergeant and Staff Sergeant. His duties included detention-barracks instruction, disciplinarian and NCO work, as well as ship-control/provost duties. Service records describe 42 months in Newfoundland and about two months in the North Atlantic/high-seas area; later records state that he proceeded to Newfoundland before 8 May 1945 and commenced sea time on 31 October 1945. His service outside Canada did not qualify for the 1939-45 Star. He was released on 15 February 1946 as Staff Sergeant.
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Wife and wartime next of kin: Sarah Thompson, Ormstown, Quebec; marriage date recorded as 3 June 1926. Personnel selection records say the couple had five children by 1943. Daughter Alexandria McCrindle Thompson was born at Ormstown on 10 February 1945. The 1960 obituary names son Martin and five daughters, all then in Quebec.
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
Research Notes
Born 31 Jan 1904 at Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland; a 1955 reserve record gives 31 Jan 1905, but the wartime attestation and repeated WWII documents support 1904. He came to Canada in April 1927. Personnel selection records say his parents remained in Galston, Scotland, and that he had one sister and one brother. He and wife Sarah had five children by 1943. A daughter, Alexandria McCrindle Thompson, was born at Ormstown on 10 Feb 1945. Medical history includes both legs broken in 1924, mild flat feet, a January 1946 right-knee contusion after a slip (x-ray negative, improved with physiotherapy), and a tender callus of the right foot referred to DVA after discharge. The file records that he voluntarily donated blood in April and June 1944. He failed an A.I. course at Utopia, New Brunswick in 1943 with 49%, with the instructor noting good effort but limited ability to teach. His conduct sheet records a 1942 traffic/transport-related entry and a 1943 forfeiture of furlough; wording/punishment is not sufficiently clear to expand beyond the source. In 1946 the Army formally recognized his outstanding service with the British Empire Medal (Military Division).
