Africa General Service clasp S. Nigeria 1905-06. Doctor, S.N. Regt.

Africa General Service clasp S. Nigeria 1905-06.

Dr. F.B. Thompson, S.N. Regt.

Francis Barrallier Thompson, son of a prosperous London solicitor  Gustavus Thompson. and of French emigree descent,
went on to become a doctor, a specialist in tropical diseases, and eventually the Chief Medical Officer in Cyprus. His eldest daughter, Stella, married an Irish peer, the 6th Marquis Conyngham, from a family, both famous and notorious in aristocratic circles, and the Barrallier name now appears in the family tree of the British royal family.

First appears as a medical student who perhaps in search of adventure enlists as a Gunner in  the Royal Artillery, 17 March 1891. Occupation ‘Student ‘ aged 20. Evidently tiring of the Artillery he transfers 5 days later to 1st Royal Dragoons. This he was also clearly unsuited to and took his discharge the following day, 23 March. Enlistment being medically fit, change of units, and discharge in 6 days must constitute some sort of record. Not to be put off he enlists as  Trooper in the Royal Horse Guards in that October, 1891, Lance Corporal 1894 and took his discharge in 1895 presumably to resume his medical studies. Presumably successfully as he appears as Doctor the South Nigeria Regiment in the 1905-06 punitive expedition under Brevet Major J. M. Trenchard, Royal Scots Fusiliers and Captain G. T. Mair, Royal Field Artillery, an operation mounted in response to the  of Dr. Stewart in the Oswerri District,

From Richard Magor,  Africa General Service Medals,

‘This medical officer was new to Nigeria and was travelling alone through the bush on his bicycle and lost his way. Accounts vary as to what happened. Some say Stewart was murdered as he slept, others that he was captured, trussed up naked and carried alive from village to village with bits being cut off as ‘juju’ until finally he was decapitated and eaten. All however agree that his body was cut up into small pieces and distributed around for consumption as a fetish. All those who ate a piece of Dr. Stewart would henceforth be released from the white man’s domination and protected from any harm from a European … There was severe fighting which did not really end until those responsible for Stewart’s murder were captured, summarily tried and hanged … Dr. Stewart’s skull and bones, except for the hands and left leg, were eventually surrendered and sent to Calabar for burial.’

Thompson reappears in 1921 where the London Gazette records him at that time as Chief Medical Officer and there appointed to be a Member of the Legislative Council of Cyprus.

Sums up short time research. We should imagine there is plenty of scope.