Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thompson, a boot and shoe trade edge setter, born in the October quarter of 1858 in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire and baptised on the 19th April 1859 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton (son of Charles Thompson, 1825-1869 and Charlotte Ball, 1825-1897) and his wife Edith Thompson (nee Chesterton, married on the 2nd November 1880 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton), born in the January quarter of 1860 in Earl Shilton (daughter of Charles Chesterton, 1839-1894 and Sarah Armson, 1837-1893). Augustus Hugh was born on the 8th January 1896 and baptised on the 12th October 1902 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, his siblings were, John Charles, a boot and shoe trade rivetter, born on the 27th February 1882 and baptised on the 10th September 1882 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, Edith Gertrude, a boot and shoe trade eyelet maker, born on the 7th January 1886 and baptised on the 14th March 1886 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, Lilian, a hosiery trade winder, born on the 11th April 1888 and baptised on the 12th August 1888 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, Susan Blanch, born on the 16th April 1892 and baptised on the 12th October 1902 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, Norah Grace, born on the 10th March 1894 and baptised on the 12th October 1902 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, Elsie May, born on the 29th May 1897 and baptised on the 12th October 1902 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, Vincent Maurice, born on the 25th March 1899 and baptised on the 12th October 1902 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton, and Agatha Evangeline, born in the July quarter of 1900, all his siblings were born in Earl Shilton, in March 1901 the family home was at 85, Church Street, Earl Shilton. Agatha Evangeline died, aged 17 months in November 1901 and was interred in Earl Shilton Cemetery on the 29th November 1901.
In April 1911 Augustus was employed as a grocer’s errand boy and was residing in the family home at 9, Hill Top, Earl Shilton, together with his father, a boot and shoe trade finisher, his mother and siblings, Edith, a boot and shoe trade machinist, Lilian, a hosiery trade winder, Norah, a boot and shoe trade stockroom worker, Vincent a schoolboy and Elsie.
Augustus’s brother, Vincent fell in action on the 10th April 1918.
FAMILY NOTE: Augustus also had the following sibling, Edward Hiram, born in the April quarter of 1890 in Earl Shilton and baptised on the 11th May 1890 in the Church of St. Simon & St. Jude, Earl Shilton and who died, aged 9 years in the April quarter of 1899 in Earl Shilton.
Augustus’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regiment. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 20896.
Posted. To 9th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field. 14/7/16.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Augustus nominated his mother, Edith as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - FRICOURT. Battalion moved off at 12.15am and moved up to the southern edge of MAMETZ WOOD. Fairly heavy shelling. They reached the reserve position MAMETZ WOOD 500 yards west of the front edge at 3.20am just as intense bombardment of German trenches began, and either went into existing trenches or dug in. At 5.20am “B” Company (Captain ANDERSON) and 1 platoon of “A” Company moved over to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD to reinforce the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT They finally reached the north of the wood of village and as far as possible dug themselves in. They were mixed up with the 6th, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Heavy casualties including all Company officers. At 6.00am remainder of “A” Company moved to German 1st line trench and started to consolidate it. 2 platoons of “C” Company taken to Brigade Headquarters for carrying. At 8.15am Lieutenant Colonel HAIG with “D” Company and ½ of “C” Company moved to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG had orders to take over defence on the north western and western edge of the wood which was being heavily shelled. At 8.45am “D” Company (Lieutenant NOLAN) directed on the north western corner of the wood to clear wood and dig in on the edge. 2 platoons of “C” Company in support trench with Battalion Headquarters. Between 9.00am and 12.00 noon “D” Company met with heavy opposition and reached forward support line but failed to clear wood. Lieutenant NOLAN was killed. Lieutenant de LISLE and Lieutenant SMITH were wounded. Between 12.00 noon and 3.00pm Germans threatened counter attack, very heavy shelling of all lines. “A” Company brought to Battalion Headquarters and 2 platoons sent to reinforce 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. At 12.00 noon Colonel KUMME, 2 officers and 30 men captured by “D” Company. Between 4.00pm and 7.00pm Brigadier came and ordered all available men to attack the north western edge of the wood. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG, Captain EMMETT and 2nd Lieutenant STEPHENS with about 50 men advanced roping in about 100 men of 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT as supports. Captain EMMETT with 40 men reached the north western edge of the wood and killed 4 German observers and attempted to charge the German trenches 50 yards from the edge of the wood. Captain EMMETT and 36 men were killed by machine gun fire. Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel HAIG with the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT and a few of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had reached the railway line and came under enfilade machine gun fire (Lieutenant STEPHENS was killed). The edge of the wood close to the village was cleared and a small drive was organised towards Captain EMMETT’S party. They came under heavy sniping fire and Lieutenant HINCKLEY was wounded and most of his men killed or wounded. 7.00pm all posts started consolidating where they were. Patrols sent out constantly from the strong posts. Rough positions as below (On the Battalion Diary page a rough sketch shows the positions of the Companies) Between 9.00pm and 11.00pm heavy shelling and enemy rifle fire but no actual organised attack.
[recognitum XXII-X-MMXXIII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Photograph sent by AS Ellis, 23/10/23. Augustus was his great uncle, also known as Gus.