The Outstanding & Historically Important 'Thomson' Family, Father & Son, grouping of three:



"THE TOWER OF LONDON"
(FENIAN DYNAMITE CAMPAIGN)
MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL (Victoria)
1st Class Master Gunner, &


Egypt Medal (SUAKIN 1885) & Khedive's Star 1884-86.
5/1 Scots Divisional Royal Artillery.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL.
To:
1st CL. MASTr GUN:
J. THOMSON. R.A.
John Thomson was the resident Master Gunner 1st Class at The Tower of London, when on 24th January 1885 the infamous 'FENIAN TERRORIST" dynamite explosion claimed several lives. His M.S.M. was awarded for his exemplary actions during this event. Full details of the event which destroyed the banqueting suite in the White Tower also included two other large simultaneous explosions at Westminster Hall & The Houses of Parliament. For his actions of 'conspicuous gallantry in the Westminster Hall explosion, Police Constable William Cole of "A" Div' Met Police was awarded the Albert Medal 1st Class. All details of these three outrages were widely recorded in the newspapers of the day..
&















EGYPT MEDAL
To:
37466.
BOMBr S. J. THOMSON,
5/1 SCO:DIV: R.A.
(DIED OF DISEASE)

An unusual father & son grouping with original attestation papers for the Egypt pair.

These confirm that the son, described as Theodore James Thomson, was unusually recruited by his father, Master Gunner, John Thomson.

Shown as S.J. Thomson on his medal and on the medal roll, he was actually Theodore James Thomson. The handwritten cursive 'curled' T is often confused with an S on the Victorian rolls.

The 5/1 Scots Div' R.A. fielded Six 2.5inch guns at SUAKIN.

Theodore J. Thomson of whom we unusually have a picture was born in 1862 and died of pleurisy while in service in Scotland in 1888 at the age of only 26.

All three medals are in excellent EF+ condition and were clearly unworn by either recipient, with young Theodore probably being deceased before the arrival of his medals.

SOLD