Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Henry Thompson of 3, Normanton Cottages, Stamford, Lincs. He served throughout the South African Campaign emerging unscathed. He had been in Australia for about six years and was in the process of setting up a business as a market gardener on a rather grand scale, when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in March 1916. He came to England in the early part of December 1916, and then embarked for France on the 2nd February 1917. During the first battle the Battalion was engaged in at Arras on the Somme front, on the 11th April, it suffered quite extensively, and two hundred men were taken prisoner, including Arthur. He died from sickness at Friedrichfeld, Germany. Other sources show his rank as Sergeant. His enlistment documents record that he gave his trade or calling as Gardener and his next of kin as his father, John Thompson of 3, Normanton Cottages, Northampton, England, later changed to Stamford, Rutland. He stated he was unmarried and had previously served for 8 years with the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Yeomanry. Information taken from his medical examination shows that he was 5 foot 6 ½ inches in height and weighed 148 pounds, he had a chest measurement of 35 to 37 inches. His complexion was described as fresh with brown eyes and dark hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. His record of service gives the following information. 13th October 1916 embarked from Freemantle, Australia aboard A39 “Port Macquarie.” 12th December 1916 Disembarked at Plymouth, England and marched into 4th Training Battalion from Australia. 13th December 1916 reverted to ranks on joining his Battalion at Codford. 21st December 1916 to be acting Sergeant with E.D.P. 4th Training Battalion. 8th February 1917 Proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone aboard S.S. “Princess Victoria.” 9th February 1917 marched in from Training Battalion England to 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, France and reverts to Private. 11th February 1917 marched out to unit. 11th April 1917 reported misssing in action. A statement made by two escaped prisoners, 5163 Lance Corporal Parsons and 6214 Private Stewart said that he was captured at Reincourt. The term Prisoner of War, Germany was deleted from the report and substituted with “Prisoner of War in German hands.” 11th August 1917 reported Prisoner of War in German hands. 14th January 1918 it was reported that he had died of disease on the 2nd November 1917 at Kriegs Lazarett, (Training College, Girls School, Mons, Belgium). Whilst a Prisoner of War in German hands of asthma.