Colin Sinclair Thomson

Rear-Admiral Colin Sinclair Thomson (27 May, 1888 – 24 July, 1959) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Dunedin, New Zealand, the son of a doctor.

Thomson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 April, 1911.

On 11 February, 1914, Thomson was appointed as first lieutenant in Ambuscade.

Great War

Thomson served in Ambuscade until 9 August, 1915 when he was appointed in command of the "C" Class destroyer Leven. In late September, however, he was appointed to President for special service. This appointment was rather longer, ending on 27 June, 1916. On 17 July, 1916, he was appointed to the new destroyer Patrician, to assume command upon her commissioning. This command was short-lived, as he transferred to command of Hydra in August. He remained in her until 3 March, 1917 when he was appointed to Tempest, to assume command when she was commissioned. This gave way at some undated point to command of Loyal and then Liberty by April of 1917.

Thomson remained in Liberty until being temporarily appointed in command of the destroyer Sarpedon on 27 February, 1918. Despite its temporary nature, this command lasted through the end of the war.

Interbellum

Thomson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 April, 1919.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Verdun on 30 April, 1919. He grounded her in 1920 and a Court of Enquiry concluded that he should have been taking soundings at the time.

Thomson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1925.

Thomson was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1931.

Thomson was appointed in command of the new light cruiser Ajax on 16 December, 1934, to take command upon her commissioning for trials at sea. He helped quell disturbances in Trinidad related to economic strife in 1937, restoring a "sense of confidence and goodwill" which earned the appreciation of the island's Governor General. Thomson remained in command of Ajax until he was superseded on 9 October, 1937. After a Senior Officers' Technical Course, he was appointed in command of the training ship Boscawen and as Captain in Charge and King's Harbour Master, Portland, vice Powell.

World War II

Thomson was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 8 July, 1941 and placed on the Retired List the following day.

Thomson died in hospital on 24 July, 1959.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by William J. F. Dunlop	Captain of H.M.S. Leven 9 Aug, 1915 – 26 Sep, 1915	Succeeded by Henry Forrester
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Patrician 17 Jul, 1916 – Aug, 1916	Succeeded by Francis G. Glossop
Preceded by Francis G. Glossop	Captain of H.M.S. Hydra Aug, 1916 – 3 Mar, 1917	Succeeded by Frederick A. P. Foster
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Tempest 3 Mar, 1917 – Apr, 1917[Inference]	Succeeded by F. Burges Watson
Preceded by F. Burges Watson	Captain of H.M.S. Loyal c. late Mar, 1917 – 21 Apr, 1917	Succeeded by Francis A. Clutterbuck
Preceded by Philip W. S. King	Captain of H.M.S. Liberty late Apr, 1917 – 23 Feb, 1918	Succeeded by Harold G. Campbell
Preceded by Edmond A. B. Stanley	Captain of H.M.S. Sarpedon 27 Feb, 1918 – 30 Apr, 1919	Succeeded by Gerald M. McKenna
Preceded by James R. C. Cavendish	Captain of H.M.S. Verdun 30 Apr, 1919 – 20 Nov, 1921	Succeeded by Valentine M. Wyndham-Quin
Preceded by Martin J. C. de Meric	Captain of H.M.S. Westminster 29 Nov, 1921 – 16 May, 1922	Succeeded by Ivan B. Colvin
Preceded by Thomas C. C. Bolster	Captain of H.M.S. Viscount 2 Jun, 1922 – 8 Apr, 1924	Succeeded by Vincent P. Freeman
Preceded by Herbert Owen	Captain of H.M.S. Winchelsea 8 Apr, 1924 – 4 Mar, 1925	Succeeded by Donald C. Brock
Preceded by Martin J. C. de Meric	Captain of H.M.S. Versatile 31 Mar, 1927 – 20 Apr, 1927	Succeeded by Colin S. Thomson
Preceded by Lionel G. Dawson	Captain of H.M.S. Vesper 20 Apr, 1927 – Jun, 1927	Succeeded by Edmund G. N. Rushbrooke
Preceded by Colin S. Thomson	Captain of H.M.S. Versatile Jun, 1927 – Mar, 1929	Succeeded by Walter N. T. Beckett
Preceded by Walter N. T. Beckett	Captain of H.M.S. Whitley Mar, 1929 – 19 Apr, 1929	Succeeded by Edmund G. N. Rushbrooke
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Ajax 16 Dec, 1934 – 9 Oct, 1937	Succeeded by Charles H. L. Woodhouse
Preceded by James Powell	Captain of Training Ship H.M.S. Boscawen 5 Sep, 1939 – 21 Oct, 1940	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by James Powell	Commodore-in-Charge, Portland 5 Sep, 1939 – 21 Oct, 1940	Succeeded by ?