Samuel Frederick Henry Thompson was reported missing from the date September 27th, 1918, aged 27 years. On that date he was flying in company with two other British planes about 10 miles east of Cambrai when they were met by 15 of the enemy’s machines. Captain Thompson’s machine was last seen taking a nose dive, but the observer on another plane who noticed this could not see the conclusion of the apparent crash on account of being subjected to a heavy attack at the time.
Captain Thompson began his technical career as a pupil at the works of Messrs. Frazer & Chalmers, Ltd., Erith, where he was employed for about 3½ years from 1908. He then entered on a year and-a-half’s course at the East London College, in the Mile End Road, London, E. At the conclusion of that period he went to Nigeria to the Forum River Tin Mine for nearly three years, returning early in 1915 to take a metallurgical course at the Sir John Cass Technical Institute.
In May, 1915, he relinquished that training to receive his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps. He was subsequently transferred to the Royal Air Force in which he reached the rank of Captain and Flight-Commander. He was awarded the Military Cross, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Mr. Thompson was admitted to Studentship of the Institution in 1915.
Vol. 29, Trans IMM 1919-20, p.439
