Rifleman Hugh Joseph Thompson (7013406) served in 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles during the Second World War. He was the son of John "Johnny" Thompson and Annie Thompson of Moltke Street, Belfast.
Hugh enlisted in the British Army at the outbreak of the Second World War. Before going to war, he married Elizabeth L Swain of 5 Linwood Street, Belfast. The couple had a baby daughter. One of Hugh’s brothers, William Thompson, served in India with the British forces.
WartimeNI Photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone of Rifleman High Joseph Thompson. He served at Dunkirk with 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles. Photo taken on tour of Belfast City Cemetery with Peter McCabe in Spring 2017. Copyright Scott Edgar - WartimeNI.
Rifleman Thompson died at an English military hospital on 3rd June 1940 aged 20 years old. He returned to the United Kingdom wounded from Dunkirk, France. He fought in the rearguard of the British Expeditionary Force with 2nd Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles.
Hugh Joseph Thompson’s grave is in Glenalina Extension, Section A, Grave 362 of Belfast City Cemetery, Belfast. His headstone bears the inscription:
Manly and brave, his young life he gave.