Canada, Commonwealth. A Second War Cfd Group, Royal Regina Rifles, Wounded On April 5, 1945

1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; War Medal 1939-1945; and Canadian Forces' Decoration with Ten Years Additional Service Clasp, QEII (CPL G.R. THOMSON). Naming is engraved on the CFD, the four Second War awards are un-named as issued. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, both silver medals with dark patinas, scattered gilt wear on the CFD, light contact, original ribbons, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Service Records, along with a reproduction file photograph of Thomson in uniform.

Footnote: Thomspson was a resident of Silver Park, Saskatchewan, when he enlisted as a Private (L-10798) with the Canadian Active Service Force, signing his Attestation Paper on December 3, 1941 at No. 12A District Depot in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, stating his birth date as December 23, 1923 (instead of the actual date of 1924, which would have made him 17 and underage for enlistment), claiming to be age 18, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Ethel May Thompson, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Farmer. Now a listed as a Gunner, he was posted to A-18 Advanced (Machine Gun) Training Centre at Dundurn, Saskatchewan on December 16, 1941. He was soon transferred to No. 12 Basic Training Centre in Chatham, Ontario on January 9, 1942, then transferred to A-1 Canadian Artillery Training Centre at Camp Petawawa, Ontario on March 10, 1942. Upon completion of his artillery training, Gunner Thompson was transferred to A-23 Coast Defence and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Advanced Training Centre at Debert, Nova Scotia on May 4, 1942, taken on strength of the 30th Anti-Aircraft Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery on the 5th. He was positioned with Atlantic Command, for airport and coast defence. He proceeded on command to "G" Force on July 3, 1942. Gunner Thompson was at Goose Bay, Labrador when he ran afoul of the authorities on three occasions: awarded three days' Confinement to Base for "Conduct to the Prejudice" on April 17, 1942, awarded two days' Confinement to Base for "Neglect to the Prejudice" on September 24, 1942, and awarded seven days' Confinement to Base for "Failing to Comply with Unit Standing Orders" on March 19, 1943. He was transferred to the 22nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery on July 1, 1943 and even though he had run afoul of the authorities three times, was still authorized to wear one Good Conduct Badge on January 15, 1944. Two weeks later, he was transferred to No. 1 Transit Camp at Windsor, Nova Scotia on January 27, 1944, where the decision was made to switch him to the Canadian Infantry Corps as a Private with the Royal Regina Rifles, on February 11, 1944. Private Thompson was transferred to A-15 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Shilo, Manitoba on April 9, 1944. He again ran afoul of the authorities, as he was awarded nine days' Confinement to Base and forfeited one days' pay for "Being Absent Without Leave" from May 23 to May 24, 1944. He was transferred to S-5 Advanced Driving & Maintenance School at Woodstock, Ontario on July 5, 1944, where he put his driving skills to the test and qualified as a Driver (Wheeled) III Class and (U.C.) III Class on August 19th. He subsequently returned to A-15 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Shilo the next day, where he would remain for two months, before transferred and posted to No. 3 Training Brigade at Debert, Nova Scotia on October 25, 1944.

Having finished his training in Canada, Gunner Thompson was taken on strength of the Canadian Army Overseas for service in the Second World War, disembarking Canada on November 21, 1944, arriving in the United Kingdom on the 29th. After one month in the United Kingdom, he embarked for North West Europe on December 29, 1944, arriving on the 30th. Once in Europe, he became a Rifleman with the Royal Regina Rifles on January 5, 1945. After three months' service in North West Europe, Rifleman Thompson was wounded, received a gunshot wound to his forehead from a machine gun, on April 5, 1945. He was initially treated at No. 11 Canadian Field Ambulance, before being transferred to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station on the 5th. Later that day, he was transferred and admitted to No. 1 Canadian General Hospital, where he would be treated for five days, before being transferred to No. 12 Canadian General Hospital on April 10th, a stay that would last two days, before being discharged from hospitalization on the 12th. By May 7, 1945, the Royal Regina Rifles had suffered 356 fatal casualties, with Rifleman Thompson returning to duty with the Royal Regina Rifles on May 18th. Rifleman Thompson embarked North West Europe on June 16, 1945, arriving in the United Kingdom the same day, where he was posted to No. 5 Canadian Repatriation Depot on the 17th. He volunteered his services for the for the Pacific Force and returned to Canada on July 7, 1945, arriving home on July 14th. Upon the ceasing of hostilities in the Pacific region and his service no longer required there, he was posted to A-35 Canadian Parachute Training Centre (CPTC) at Brandon, Manitoba on September 11, 1945. After almost four weeks at Brandon, he was transferred to No. 8 Infantry Training Centre (ITC) at Maple Creek, Saskatchewan on October 17th. Rifleman/Gunner Glen Ross Thompson, Royal Regina Rifles/Royal Canadian Artillery was discharged upon demobilization at No. 12 District Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan on November 5, 1945, credited with having served in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland (Netherlands) and Germany. For his Second World War service, he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp and the War Medal 1939-1945. The Army recommended that he seek employment as a truck driver and he returned to Silver Park. Two and a half years later, Thompson made the decision to re-join the Army, on what he hoped would be on a permanent basis. He was a resident of Silver Park, Saskatchewan, when he enlisted as a Private (SL-10798) with the Canadian Armed Forces, signing his Attestation Paper on April 27, 1948 at No. 9 Personnel Depot, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps in Regina, Saskatchewan, engaging for three years' service, stating his birth date as December 23, 1924, now confirmed as age 23, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. Ethel May Thompson (which was later changed to his wife, Marie Ann Belle Thompson, once he married), stating that he had previous service in the Canadian Army from December 3, 1941 to November 5, 1945 during the Second World War, that he was Single (which was later changed to Married) and that his religion was Church of England. He was allocated to the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, joining No. 12 RCASC on April 29th and would see various postings at Saskatoon, Prince Albert and Dundurn. He had two visits to hospital: the first was his admission to Regina General Hospital "sick" on July 27, 1948, the stay in hospital a brief one. This was followed by his admission to Department of Veteran Affairs Hospital at Saskatoon "sick" on March 8, 1949, for three days, before being discharged from hospitalization on the 11th. Glen Ross Thompson married Marie Ann Belle Longstaff at Dundurn United Church in Dundurn, Saskatchewan, on September 15, 1949, the couple later to have three children.