Arthur Herbert Thompson

Arthur Herbert Thompson
Portrait of Thompson with his military uniform c. 1915
Born(1890-06-00)June 1890
Sevenoaks, Kent, United Kingdom
Died25 September 1916(1916-09-25) (aged 26)
Gueudecourt, Somme, France
Cause of deathKilled in action
Buried
Thiepval Memorial
Years of service1915–1916
RankCaptain
Unit12th and 10th battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Spouse(s)Milicent Emily Taylor (married 1916)
RelationsEmily Adeline Thompson (mother)
Arthur William Thompson (father)
Sidney Ernest Thompson
Cecil George Thompson[1]

Captain Arthur Herbert Thompson (c. June 1890[2] – 25 September 1916) was an English soldier and amateur football player, known for playing in the first official Superclásico of Argentine football.

Born and raised in Sevenoaks, Thompson moved to Buenos Aires in 1911 to work as a staff member for the British Bank of South America. He played for Estudiantes de la Plata in his spare time from October 1911 to July 1913 making 15 appearances and scoring 8 goals, after which he moved to River Plate, where he played the first official Superclásico. He played 3 more games in 1914 before going back to England in October of that year. Thompson participated in the First World War, and died in the Battle of the Somme during the Capture of Gueudecourt. He is also one of the three Englishmen to have played in River Plate.

Early life

Thompson grew up in No. 6 Argyle Road, Sevenoaks. Arthur and his brother Sidney went to the Lady Boswell's School primary school, they moved to the Sevenoaks School for their high school.[3] In 1908 Thompson played in the starting eleven of the Sevenoaks School football team.[4] After graduating from the Sevenoaks School, he became secretary of the Old Sennockians' Club (a club founded by alumni of the Sevenoaks School). His father William was the Sevenoaks Post Office Superintendent.[3]

Club Career

Estudiantes de La Plata

Thompson travelled to Argentina in 1911 to work for the British Bank of South America.[5] Thompson's first job in a bank was at the Union of London Bank and Smith’s Bank as a clerk.[2][6] He began playing Argentine football in October 1911 with Estudiantes de La Plata as a centre-forward, where he played 15 matches and scored 8 goals, one of his most important goals was in the Round of 16 of the Copa de Honor against River Plate,[7][5] the club whom he joined later in July 1913.

River Plate

His first match in River Plate was on 24 August 1913 against Boca Juniors, where River won 2–1, making it the first official Superclásico[a] in the history of Argentine football. In 1914, Arthur played three more matches for River Plate as a defender: a 3-0 win against Banfield, a 2-1 win against Belgrano Athletic Club and a 2-0 lost against Racing Club.[5][9] Thompson returned to England from Argentina on 3 October 1914 in the port of Liverpool, boarding the RMS Amazon.[10] He is one of the three Englishmen to have ever played in the club.[11]

Military Career and Death

Thompson volunteered for the First World War for the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, where he was a lieutenant in the 12th battalion that arrived in December 1915, but he was attached to the 10th battalion.[12][13] Thompson already had experience in the military, as he was a trooper in the Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry for four years.[3] Thompson would later temporarily become the Captain of the 10th battalion[14] until his death in the Battle of the Somme during the Capture of Gueudecourt on 25 September 1916,[12][15] the same day as his younger brother Sidney's death in 1915 (aged 21).[16][17] After his death, his wife (Millicent Emily Taylor)[3] received this letter from Second Lieutenant F. R. Parker Dexter:[17]

It grieves me to tell you of your husband's death in action on the 25th. Whilst gallantly leading his company to the assault, he was shot through the head; his death was instantaneous, so it was impossible for him to leave a message. Although he had only commanded his Company for a few weeks, in that short time, he had won the hearts of officers and men and the few that are left join me in sympathising with you in your very sad bereavement. Tommy, as we called him, was a great pal of one out here. Perhaps you will remember me meeting you in Newcastle? Please excuse me writing any more just now, as it upsets me to think about the last few days; but if you care to write to me, I shall only be too glad to write a little later.[3][17]

He is remembered in the Thiepval Memorial at Pier and Face 11 C and 12 A.[12]

Personal life

He married his wife, Milicent Emily Taylor, in 18 June 1916 at the St. Mary Church in Kippington, Sevenoaks, she was an assistant school teacher and changed her last name to Thompson.[3][6][18] She remained a widow until 1920 when she married Bertram L. Playfoot.[18]

Career statistics

Club Division Season League and Copa de Honor
Matches Goals
Estudiantes de La Plata 1.ª 1911-1913 15 8
Total club 15 8
River Plate 1.ª 1913 1 (known) 0
1914 3 ?
Total club 4 (known) ?
Total career 19 (known) 8

Military awards

Thompson's decorations, awards, and badges include, among others:

1st row Victory Medal British War Medal

Notes

  1. ^ River Plate and Boca Juniors disputed two friendlies before, In 1908 where Boca won 2–1 and in 1912 where Boca abandoned the match. The match played in 1913 is considered the first because it was the first official match played between both teams. (friendlies in football don't count towards official standings).[8]

References

  1. ^ Ball, Matthew (6 March 2018). "Hidden casualties". Sevenoaks WW1. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b 1916 Sevenoaks School Quarterly
  3. ^ a b c d e f Ball, Matthew (15 October 2014). Sevenoaks War Memorial: The Men Remembered. Amberley Publishing Limited. pp. 53–54. ISBN 978-1-4456-4294-9.
  4. ^ 1908 Sevenoaks School Magazine
  5. ^ a b c "El jugador de River que fue a combatir a la Primera Guerra Mundial y murió en combate". Tiempo Argentino (in Spanish). 4 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Census of England and Wales, 1911" (Census). Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives. 2 April 1911.
  7. ^ "Argentina - Copa de Honor "Municipalidad de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires" - 1913". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  8. ^ "24 de agosto de 1913: el primer superclásico oficial | Andres Burgo". web.archive.org (in Spanish). 26 November 2020. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  9. ^ "Argentina 1914". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  10. ^ "UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960" (Index). Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives. 1878–1960.
  11. ^ "El caso inverso al de Enzo Fernández y Julián Álvarez: los ingleses de River" (in Spanish). 5 February 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "Captain Arthur Herbert Thompson | War Casualty Details 815792". CWGC. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
  13. ^ Wylly, Harold Carmichael; Bond, Reginald Copleston (1926). History of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry: Bond, R. C. 1914-1918. P. Lund, Humphries & Company. p. 786.
  14. ^ Medal card of Thompson, Arthur Herbert. The National Archives. 1914–1920.
  15. ^ "10th Battalion K.O. Yorkshire L.I. War Diary". King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (September 1916).
  16. ^ "FreeBMD Entry Info". www.freebmd.org.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Lieut. Thompson killed". The Sevenoaks Chronicle. 6 October 1916. p. 6. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  18. ^ a b "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index" (Index). London: General Register Office. 1916–2015. p. 2203.
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