Tommy Thompson (rugby union)
Encyclopedia
Gerald "Tommy" W. Thompson (4 October 1886-20 June 1916) was a South African rugby union
player from Carnarvon in South Africa, where he attended Rondebosch Boys' High School
. He was killed in German East Africa
in World War I
, while serving in the South African Infantry. He died in action at Katanga, East Africa, and is buried in Dar es Salaam
in modern day Tanzania
, near Jacky Morkel
.
Thompson took part in the 1912-13 South Africa rugby union tour
as an outside centre, and was capped in three tests, against , and all in 1912. He played for Western Province
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player from Carnarvon in South Africa, where he attended Rondebosch Boys' High School
Rondebosch Boys' High School
Rondebosch Boys' High School is a state secondary school in Rondebosch, a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It was founded in 1897 and is known by the acronym "RBHS".-Academics:...
. He was killed in German East Africa
German East Africa
German East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
in World War I
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...
, while serving in the South African Infantry. He died in action at Katanga, East Africa, and is buried in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
in modern day Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, near Jacky Morkel
Jacky Morkel
Jan "Jacky" Willem Hurter Morkel was a South African rugby union player. He was killed in German East Africa in World War I, while serving in the Mounted Commandos...
.
Thompson took part in the 1912-13 South Africa rugby union tour
1912-13 South Africa rugby union tour
The 1912–13 South Africa rugby union tour was a collection of friendly rugby union games undertaken by the South Africa national rugby union team against England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and France. The tour also took in several matches against British and Irish club, county and invitational teams...
as an outside centre, and was capped in three tests, against , and all in 1912. He played for Western Province
Western Province (rugby team)
DHL Western Province is a South African rugby union team that participates in the annual Currie Cup tournament. The team has won the Currie Cup on 32 occasions and has the most supporters of any Currie Cup team...
.