Angus Eric Methven Sinclair-Thomson (1880 - 1961)

Ancestors Descendants

Biography

Lieutenant-Colonel Angus Eric Methven Sinclair- Thomson. D.S.O. He was born in 1880 in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire and educated at Epsom and the English College, Bruges. In 1899 Angus was commissioned in The Essex Regiment, just before the start of the Second Boer War. Soon after, he was posted with his Regiment to South Africa where he took part in the battle of Paardeberg and on Feb 18th, 1900, he was wounded.

Angus wrote about the events leading up to the battle of Paardeberg, and his part in it, in a series of letters to his mother and she copied these into a notebook. A scanned copy of this notebook can be seen as a Pdf in images and by clicking on this link:

Image:Sinclair-Thomson-4-2.pdf

Letters from Angus Sinclair-Thomson aged 19 to his Mother from S Africa from 1 Jan to 13 March 1900 during the 2nd Boer War

In his letters he records details of his part in the battle of Paardeberg, and how he was wounded on Feb 18th 1900. After treatment in the Wynberg military hospital in Cape Town, Angus made a full recovery and rejoined his comrades as can be seen in the attached photo:

Angus Sinclair-Thomson on his twentieth birthday a second lieutenant in the Boer War at Erdzak S. Africa 24 May 1900

In the First World War he served with his regiment and on the staff, being Brigade- Major, 29th Division, at Gallipoli and General Staff Office Grade 1 (GC.S.O.1), 53rd Division in Egypt and Palestine. He was awarded the D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order) in 1915, and was awarded the brevet of lieutenant-colonel in 1917 and was four times mentioned in dispatches.

Towards the end of hostilities he was G.S.O.I. (General Staff Officer 1) Scottish Command, and from 1920 to 1923 he served as G.S.0.2 on the Inter-Allied Commission of Control in Berlin. In 1927 he was promoted lieutenant- colonel and given command of the lst Battalion of The Essex Regiment.

His connection with the Army did not cease with his retirement in 1931, for he was in that year appointed secretary of the Essex T.A. Association. This post, which, first, the quickening pace of rearmament and later the demands of war made an arduous one, he held until 1945. He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for Essex County in 1932 and from 1933 to 1953 was clerk to the Lieutenancy.

On 6 July 1912 Angus married Rachel Catherine Ingram (1883-1961), daughter of Walter Feilde Ingram (1851-1925) and Catherine Louisa Helen Sclater (1852- 1929?).

Angus died on 23 May 1961 one week after his wife Rachel died. They were both buried in the cemetery of St Andrews Church Sandon, Essex CM2 7RQ. They had one son Peter Angus Sinclair-Thomson and two daughters; Rachel and Eve.

Sources

• Family records and personal recollection of events witnessed by Andrew Sinclair-Thomson as remembered 4 Oct 2020.

• The Edinburgh Gazette

• Forces War Records

• Debrett's baronetage and Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. Pages 1945 and 1946: https://archive.org/details/debrettsbaroneta00unse/page/1944/mode/2up

• UK National Archives

• The Story of the 29th Division. A Record of Gallant Deeds (1925, British Army). Book I - Gallipoli, Chapter III - The landing on 25th April 1915 with reference to Captain A E M Sinclair Thomson on Pages 5 & 25.

• Army lists November 1918 - Scottish Command Head Quarters - Edinburgh - General Staff Officer, 1st Grade: https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/123091749

• Imperial War Museum Lives of the First World War

• The Muster-roll of Angus (Angus is a historic county in eastern Scotland): South African War, 1899-1902: A Record and a Tribute to those brave sons of Angus who served in the 2nd Boer War includes Angus EM Sinclair-Thomson on Page 221 and his brother Lister. They are both listed under the surname Thomson on Pages 221/2 as grandsons of George Addison Cox of Beechwood Dundee.

• War Services of Officers of the Army (2815 – Page 617 Copy of S. African War entries for the two brothers Angus and Lister)

• Angus: Page 2815. Sinclair Thomson, A. E. M. (Capt. Essex B.)— S. African War, 1899-1902.— Relief of Kimberley. Operations in the OrangeFree State, Feb. to May 00. including operations at Paardtberg 17 to 26 Feb. (slightly wounded 18 Feb.). Operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River 99-00, including actions at Colesberg (1 to 29 Jan.). Operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony 30 Nov 00 to 31 May 02. Queen's medal with 5 clasps. DSO.

• Lister: Page 2815. Sinclair Thomson, G. A. L. (Maj. Suff. B.)— S. African War, 1899-1902.— Empld. with Mtd. Inf. Operations in the Orange Free State Apr. and May i 00. Operations in the Transvaal in May and Jun. 00, including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria. Operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria July to 29 Nov. 00, including actions at Venterskroon (7 and 9 Aug.). Operations in Orange River Colony May to 29 Nov. 00, including actions at Ladybrand (2 to 5 Sept.) and Bothaville. Operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River 99-00, including actions at Colesberg (1 to 6 Jan.). Operations in Cape Colony, north of Orange River. Operations in Orange River Colony 30 Nov. 00 to 31 May 02. Despatches, London. Gas. 10 Sept 01. Queen's medal with 3 clasps. King's medal with 2 clasps. W. Africa (N. Nigeria), 1906 - medal with 2 clasps.

• Who’s Who 1922, Page 2466 SINCLAIR - THOMSON, Lt. - Col. Angus (Eric Methven), D.S.O. 1915; Ist Essex Regiment; General Staff Officer 2nd Grade; b. 24 May 1880; s. of late W. Sinclair- Thomson, M.D., and Mrs. Sinclair-Thomson, Sandhills, Burley; m. 1912, Rachel, d. of Walter Ingram, Broads, Lewes; one s. one d. Educ.: Epsom College; France; Germany. Joined the Ist Essex Regt. from militia in 1899; served S. African War (wounded at Paardeberg, Queen’s medal with 3 clasps, King’s medal with 2 clasps); Adjutant of the Batt. 1909-12; Staff, Captain at War Office for several months ‘at commencement of European War; served as Staff Captain and Brigade Major 29th Division, Gallipoli, and was there throughout the whole of that campaign; was on the River Clyde at the landing and evacuation both at Suyla and Helies; in Egypt and Palestine, 1916-17 (despatches twice, D.S.O., Bt. Lt.-Col., Chevalier Legion of Honour). Club; Junior United Service.

• The publication “Essex Units in the War 1914-1919. The Essex Militia Vol.4, Page xvii.” Lists A. E. M. Sinclair Thomson, 1927, Under the heading Lieut.-Colonels commanding 1st battalion of the Essex regiment.

• Who's Who 1928 Angus is entered twice, once on Page 2749 under Sinclair and again on Page 2972 under Thomson, his uncle Sir StClair Thomson is entered on Page 2976 under Thomson.

• Family records show that Angus's uncle Charles Thomas Cox left a large part of his estate to be divided between the descendants of his brothers and sister living on the date of his death which was 12th April 1948. This led to legal issues as to whether unborn babies (Whether descendants in utero at time of testator's death included) at the time of death should inherit a share. The full details of the Scottish Courts judgement that they could inherit a share can be seen on the website vLex United Kingdom under Case Law. See: The Court of Session (Inner House – First Division) Scotland 20 January 1950 passed judgement on the will of Charles Thomas Cox who died on 12th April 1948. The total number of descendants of Jessie Methven (Cox) Sinclair-Thomson living at that date amounted to c.62 including at least two unborn babies.

• Royal College of Surgeons of England. Lives of the Fellows. 1930-1951 Pages 767 to 771. Has a very comprehensive biography of his uncle Sir St Clair Thomson. Reminiscences by Andrew Sinclair-Thomson is that the family inherits hearing difficulties in later years which he observed in his father (Peter and grandfather Angus) and was referred to in family discussions with aunts Rachel and Eve. This biography has the first written record of this condition. On Page 768 it says that Sir St Clair Thomson was a frequenter of the Old Vic and Sadlers Wells and the Malvern and Stratford dramatic festivals. Deafness in later years made him transfer his interest from plays to ballet.