Youngest Boy Soldier to Win George Medal

During an enemy attack on Southampton on 23rd November 1940, Boy Thompson was assisting a Sapper as a lookout on a high building in the Ordnance Survey office. He remained on duty throughout the raid, accurately reporting the fall of high explosive and incendiary bombs. When the attack was renewed on the 30th of November, Boy Thompson was a member of the fire-fighting party under Captain Keleher. When an incendiary bomb fell through the roof of a map store and fired piles of maps inside Captain Keleher broke into the room, which was full of smoke and fumes, and succeeded in playing on the fire with a hose. After a time he was overcome with smoke and fumes and had to withdraw. Two other men then attempted to take his place, but both were beaten back. Thereupon Boy Thompson, wrapping a wet cloth around his face, went in and succeeded in holding the hose on the fire until it was under control. Later in the night Boy Thompson, with another boy, volunteered to investigate and report on the state of a large three-storey building, on the roof of which the incendiary bombs had fallen. He forced his way into an attic which was found to be ablaze and made an accurate report to his superior officer. Though only 17 years of age, Boy Thompson throughout the night showed remarkable initiative as well as great devotion to duty and complete disregard for danger. All the above actions were carried out during a heavy bombardment with high explosive and incendiary bombs, falling on an enclosure closely packed with large buildings, six of which were ablaze. Many important maps and papers were saved.