Charles Ralfe Thompson
Encyclopedia
Commander
Charles Ralfe "Tommy" Thompson CMG
, OBE (22 November 1894 – 11 August 1966) was a British
naval officer and Prime Ministerial aide-de-camp
.
Thompson was born at Penshaw
, County Durham
. A sailor from a young age, he worked in the submarine service of the Royal Navy
during the first world war
. Following armistice
, he was assigned as Flag Lieutenant to Admiral Sir Arthur Waistell
. When Waistell retired several years later, Thompson served as personal assistant for several successive Admirals, until finally being positioned as the first permanent Flag Lieutenant to the Lord Admiral by Sir Samuel Hoare. Thompson continued as Flag Lieutenant between the wars, and was Winston Churchill’s
first when he returned to the Admiralty in 1939.
Throughout Churchill’s tenure as Prime Minister, Thompson remained at the Admiralty, but it is in his function as Prime Minister’s Aide-de-camp that he is best remembered. During World War II
, Thompson rarely was not at Churchill’s side and was present during major conferences and events in London and abroad.
In 1939 he became a member of the Order of the British Empire
.
Tompson retired in 1945 alongside Churchill, ending his naval career with the rank of Commander. Churchill noted Thompson on his honours list
.
A lifelong bachelor, Thompson died at the age of 71 in London.
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Charles Ralfe "Tommy" Thompson CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, OBE (22 November 1894 – 11 August 1966) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
naval officer and Prime Ministerial aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
.
Thompson was born at Penshaw
Penshaw
The village of Penshaw , formerly known as Painshaw or Pensher, is an area of the metropolitan district of the City of Sunderland, in Tyne and Wear, England...
, County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. A sailor from a young age, he worked in the submarine service of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the first world war
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Following armistice
Armistice
An armistice is a situation in a war where the warring parties agree to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, but may be just a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace...
, he was assigned as Flag Lieutenant to Admiral Sir Arthur Waistell
Arthur Waistell
Admiral Sir Arthur Kipling Waistell KCB was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth.-Naval career:Waistell joined the Royal Navy in 1892...
. When Waistell retired several years later, Thompson served as personal assistant for several successive Admirals, until finally being positioned as the first permanent Flag Lieutenant to the Lord Admiral by Sir Samuel Hoare. Thompson continued as Flag Lieutenant between the wars, and was Winston Churchill’s
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
first when he returned to the Admiralty in 1939.
Throughout Churchill’s tenure as Prime Minister, Thompson remained at the Admiralty, but it is in his function as Prime Minister’s Aide-de-camp that he is best remembered. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Thompson rarely was not at Churchill’s side and was present during major conferences and events in London and abroad.
In 1939 he became a member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Tompson retired in 1945 alongside Churchill, ending his naval career with the rank of Commander. Churchill noted Thompson on his honours list
1945 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours
The 1945 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours were announced on 14 August 1945 to mark the resignation of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, following the success of the Labour Party in the 1945 General Election....
.
A lifelong bachelor, Thompson died at the age of 71 in London.
External links
- Biography includes photos and obituaries.