Gunner James Thomson

Gunner James Thomson, 120th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He died in Belgium, aged 33, on the 29th October 1917 from wounds suffered in action during the Battle of Third Ypres. He had been born in Perthshire in 1883 and was the son of Alexander and Mary Thomson of 100 Ettrick Terrace, Selkirk. He had been employed as a gardener when he enlisted in September 1914 and during the Battle he was gassed and died in the 47th Casualty Clearing Station. He is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium where his Headstone is inscribed ” Crown After Cross”. The standard artillery piece of the R.G.A. was the 60 pounder and was used to destroy enemy artillery and strongpoints, railways etc. behind enemy lines.