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{{Short description|British Army general (1888–1979)}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
[[File:Captain J N Thomson HU119068.jpg|thumb|right|James Noel Thomson, pictured here as a captain during World War I.]]
{{Infobox military person
 
|name= James Noel Thomson
[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] '''James Noel Thomson''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CB|DSO|MC}} (December 1888 – 3 May 1979) was a [[British Army]] officer who served during [[World War I]] and [[World War II]].
|image= Captain J N Thomson HU119068.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= Captain Thomson in 1918
|nickname=
|birth_date= {{birth date|1888|12|25|df=yes}}
|birth_place=
|death_date= {{death date and age|1979|05|03|1888|12|25|df=yes}}
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|branch= [[British Army]]
|serviceyears= 1909–1946
|rank= [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]]
|servicenumber=
|unit= [[Royal Field Artillery]]
|commands= [[6th Infantry Division (India)|6th Indian Infantry Division]] (1941–43)
|battles= [[First World War]]<br/>[[Second World War]]
|awards= [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order]]<br/>[[Military Cross]]<br/>[[Mentioned in Despatches]] (3)
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] '''James Noel Thomson''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|sep=,|CB|DSO|MC}} (25 December 1888 – 3 May 1979) was a [[British Army]] officer who served during the [[First World War|First]] and [[Second World War]]s.


==Military career==
==Military career==
Born in December 1888, James Noel Thomson was educated at [[Fettes College]],{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=308}} and later attended the [[Royal Military Academy, Woolwich]], from where he was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] into the [[Royal Field Artillery]] in 1909. He served in France from 9 September 1914 mostly on the Staff during [[World War I]], earning the [[Military Cross]] and, in 1917, the [[Distinguished Service Order]], in addition to being [[mentioned in dispatches]] three times.<ref>The Half-Yearly army List January 1933</ref>{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=309}}
Born on 25 December 1888, James Noel Thomson was educated at [[Fettes College]],{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=308}} and later attended the [[Royal Military Academy, Woolwich]], from where he was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] into the [[Royal Field Artillery]] in 1909.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28282|page=6447|date=24 August 1909}}</ref> He served in France from 9 September 1914, mostly on the Staff, during the [[First World War]], being awarded the [[Military Cross]] and, in 1917, the [[Distinguished Service Order]], in addition to being [[mentioned in despatches]] three times.<ref>The Half-Yearly army List January 1933</ref>{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=309}}
 
The war over due to the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918]], Thomson remained in the army during the [[interwar period]], where, from 1919 to 1920, he served as [[adjutant]] at the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], which was followed shortly after by his attendance at the [[Staff College, Camberley]] from 1920 to 1921. [[Royal College of Defence Studies|Imperial Defence College]] in 1932.{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=309}}
 
As part of [[Iraqforce]] (Paiforce), Major-General Thomson commanded the [[Indian 6th Infantry Division]] during [[Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia]].


He retired a Colonel (Honorary Major General) 14 August 1946<ref>London Gazette 13 August 1946</ref>
Thomson remained in the army during the [[interwar period]], where he served as [[adjutant]] at the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], from 1919 o 1920, which was followed shortly after by his attendance at the [[Staff College, Camberley]] from 1920 to 1921 and the [[Royal College of Defence Studies|Imperial Defence College]] in 1932.{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=309}}


==Command history==
As part of [[Iraqforce]] (Paiforce), Major-General Thomson commanded the [[6th Infantry Division (India)|Indian 6th Infantry Division]] during [[Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran]] in 1941. He retired a colonel (honorary major general) on 14 August 1946.<ref>London Gazette 13 August 1946</ref>
* 1934–1937: Assistant Master-General of Ordnance, [[India]]
* 1938–1941: Brigadier General Staff, Northern Command, India
* 1939: Aide-de-Camp to the King
* 1941–1943: General Officer Commanding, [[6th Infantry Division (India)|6th Indian Infantry Division]], [[Iraq]] and [[Persia]]
* 1943: Deputy Master-General of Ordnance, India
* 1946: Retired


==Family==
==Family==
James was the son of Sarah Elizabeth née Stuart and James Thomson, Iron founder of Old Machar. He married in 1929 at Shimla Lorna Carmen Buck (1902–?) daughter of Anne Margaret née Jennings (1874–?) and Sir Edward John Buck CBE (1862–1948) a Special Correspondent of Reuter's Press Agency and author of 'Simla, Past and Present'.
Thomson was the son of Sarah Elizabeth (née Stuart) and James Thomson, Iron founder of Old Machar. In 1929 he married Lorna Carmen Buck at Shimla, daughter of Anne Margaret (née Jennings) and Sir Edward John Buck, a Special Correspondent of Reuter's Press Agency and author of ''Simla, Past and Present''.
 
==See also==
* [[Iraqforce]]


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:British Army generals]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:People educated at Fettes College]]
[[Category:People educated at Fettes College]]
[[Category:Academics of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Academics of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:British Army major generals]]

Latest revision as of 15:18, 16 November 2025


James Noel Thomson
Captain Thomson in 1918
Born(1888-12-25)25 December 1888
Died3 May 1979(1979-05-03) (aged 90)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1909–1946
RankMajor-General
UnitRoyal Field Artillery
Commands held6th Indian Infantry Division (1941–43)
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (3)

Major-General James Noel Thomson, CB, DSO, MC (25 December 1888 – 3 May 1979) was a British Army officer who served during the First and Second World Wars.

Military career[edit | edit source]

Born on 25 December 1888, James Noel Thomson was educated at Fettes College,[1] and later attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, from where he was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in 1909.[2] He served in France from 9 September 1914, mostly on the Staff, during the First World War, being awarded the Military Cross and, in 1917, the Distinguished Service Order, in addition to being mentioned in despatches three times.[3][4]

Thomson remained in the army during the interwar period, where he served as adjutant at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from 1919 o 1920, which was followed shortly after by his attendance at the Staff College, Camberley from 1920 to 1921 and the Imperial Defence College in 1932.[4]

As part of Iraqforce (Paiforce), Major-General Thomson commanded the Indian 6th Infantry Division during Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941. He retired a colonel (honorary major general) on 14 August 1946.[5]

Family[edit | edit source]

Thomson was the son of Sarah Elizabeth (née Stuart) and James Thomson, Iron founder of Old Machar. In 1929 he married Lorna Carmen Buck at Shimla, daughter of Anne Margaret (née Jennings) and Sir Edward John Buck, a Special Correspondent of Reuter's Press Agency and author of Simla, Past and Present.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Smart 2005, p. 308.
  2. "No. 28282". The London Gazette. 24 August 1909. p. 6447.
  3. The Half-Yearly army List January 1933
  4. 4.0 4.1 Smart 2005, p. 309.
  5. London Gazette 13 August 1946

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

  • Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.

External links[edit | edit source]