Joseph Sylvester Vinson Thompson was born at Manilla, NSW in 1884, the third and youngest son of four children born to Henry John and Margaret Elizabeth (nee Hagan) Thompson. At the age of 31 years he enlisted in the AIF (Regimental Number 2883A) on the 9th of July 1915 at Brisbane, stating that his occupation was as a Police Constable at Bell, Queensland. He listed his mother, Margaret Elizabeth Thompson of Sandringham, Barraba, New South Wales, as his next of kin.
Initially he was posted at the rank of Private to the 25th Battalion/6th Reinforcements at Enoggera near Brisbane. On the 21st of October 1915 at Pinkenba, Brisbane he embarked on the HMAT A48 Seang Bee bound for active service, arriving at Suez on the 28th of November 1915. Upon arrival it appears that he was assigned to the 7th Training Battalion at Zeitoun.
On the 27th of February 1916 he was allotted to and proceeded to join the 9th Battalion. The next day he joined the 9th Battalion “D” Company at Gebel Habieta, about 12 miles (20 km) east of the Suez Canal. There is no record of when he received his promotion however when he transferred to the 9th Battalion he reverted to the ranks but was immediately afterwards promoted to the rank of Corporal in his new unit.
On the 27th of March 1916 he was with troops who embarked at Alexandria on the HMT Saxonia and sailed to join the British Expeditionary Force, disembarking in Marseille, France on the 3rd of April. He’d have gone by train to northern France and from there he would have been posted to active duty on the western front in the Somme.
Corporal Joseph Thompson was killed in action while fighting near Pozieres in the Somme, France on the 22nd of July 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.
Hodder was attached to the Brigade Head Quarters and was hit about the end of June by a shell when in his dug out which blew off both his legs. His mate, Gordon Farnham, dressed his wounds and passed him on to the Dressing Station.
Informant heard that he was in Egypt and still alive.
Ref. Pte. G. A. Sergent, 1064,
10 A.I.F.
1st A. G. Hospital, Heliopolis, Cairo ( 6. 12. 15 )
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Informant says he was told that Hodder had his leg blown off. He cannot say who told him nor can he fix the date. Hodder was a policeman at Broken Hill and he and several policemen came down with informant to Adelaide to enlist. Hodder was at one time in the 3rd Bgde. Transport.
Ref: Pte. A. R. Perry, 525,
10 A.I.F. C. Co. Gezira Hospital, CAIRO 5.1.16
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Informant received the following information from Bgde. H.Q.:-
Whilst Hodder was doing police duty on the beach at Anzac during July, a shell exploded in the dug-out almost severing both legs and arms from body. Was sent back to Egypt and believed to have died in Alexandria.
Ref: Pte. Tanner, 25,
3rd Bgde. H. Q. Al liayat Convalescent Home, Helouan, Cairo. 3.12.15
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He and Pte D. Fisher were in Police Duty at Brigade headquarters on August 6 and were each hit by same shell. Hodder had one or both legs blown off and Fisher lost one or more limbs. Witness did not see this happen but heard it from mates and regarded it as absolutely ture, but could never find out what became of either of them subsequently.
About 5ft 10 or 11, fair, clean shave, enlisted in South Australia, stout build, about 12 or 13 stone.
Pte. A. A. Smith 1040 A Coy, 10, A.I.F., Malta 6.1.16
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Both legs were blown off by a shell explosion whilst in his dug-out behind the trenches to the right of Lone Pine.
He died in the dressing station on the beach. Informant received the above account of Hodder’s death from J. Thomas, Stretcher-bearer, 10 A.I.F.
Ref: Sgt. Neave, 131, Sporting Club Hospital, Heliopolis, Cairo 10.1.16
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Court of Inquiry held in France 7.9.17 found this soldier K. in A. on or about 9.8.15. No hospital admission nor place of burial available.
