大象传媒

My father, Charlton Everard Thompson, passed away prior to Christmas 2003 at 83 years of age. He had served in the Eastern Med during WWII and also did Bomb and Mine Disposal after the War in Europe. Two of the ships he served sustained damage and loss of life: one in the harbour of Split by a mine strike and one in a Combined Ops mission off the coast of N. Africa. The task was to take out Rommel's mobile repair units which enabled him to be so successful with his Panzers. Minor repairs were done on the spot allowing him to maintain his advance. This attack resulted in the ship being 'fished'. It listed back to Alexandria under fire from enemy aircraft. In this attack the Stoker was killed. My father was quite affected by this as the Stoker had been someone who was well liked by all the ship's company. My father also volunteered with Bomb and Mine Disposal after the War. He also qualified for some commando unit (the SAS?) but decided to return to the Navy after he sustained an injury in a training 'incident'.

In 1957 Dad emmigrated to Barrie, Ontario, Canada with his spouse, Elizabeth (nee Tilsley, and my late brother, Stephen Paul Thompson, who was 5 at the time and me, Grahame Charlton Thompson, who was 2 1/2. He went into business and was successful but seldom spoke of his war experiences and did not take part in Canadian veteran associations. I believe he was a member of the Navy Association in Wallasey or somewhere in Mersy-side.

I am currently serving in the Regular Army in Canada as an Officer. In 2001 I had the opportunity to visit Split whilst serving on Ops in Bosnia. I must say it seemed quite surreal to be so close to where my father had seen action in WW 2 and where he might have perished like so many of his mates.

Capt GC Thompson

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