Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Marshall Thomson, a colliery owner, born 1860 in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland and his wife Edith Mary Thomson, (nee Thomas, married 1887), born 1861 in Ibstock, Leicestershire. Kenneth Clarke, a schoolboy, was born on the 24th June 1891 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, he had one sibling, a sister, Dorothy Maud, born 1897 in Linwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland, in March 1901 the family home was at Linwood House, Napier Street, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, Scotland. In April 1911 Kenneth was a gentleman cadet, and was residing as a student at The Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Berkshire. His elder brother, Samuel fell in action at Ypres in March 1915.Kenneth was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Scots Fusiliers on the 14th February 1912, and promoted Lieutenant on the 23rd February 1913. He served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders and died on the 30th December 1914 from wounds received in action near Merville, France. He was Mentioned in Despatches. His brother Samuel Pestell Donald also fell.
The War Diary records: 30 Dec-14 – The firing line became a little more dry by continual fatigues but the parapets especially on the right section were not bullet proof owing to their having fallen in. 1:00pm Lieutenant Thomson while observing artillery fire was wounded and 6656 Pte. White “D” Company was killed owing to faulty parapet. 5:00pm Wiltshire Regiment relieved the Battalion who proceed to billets at FLEURBAIX.
31Dec-14 – In billets FLEURBAIX. Lieutenant K. C. Thomson died of wounds at MERVILLE.
On Saturday January 9th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – News reached Ibstock on Saturday, that Mr. Kenneth Thomson was killed in action on Friday. The deceased officer was the younger son of Mrs. Thomson and the late Mr. S. M. Thomson, of Ibstock Collieries, and Grey Lodge, Groby. About three weeks ago he had 48 hours leave, when he paid a hurried visit to his home at Groby. The families of his parents have been closely connected with Ibstock for many years. Messrs. Thomson being large employers of labour at Ibstock Collieries and brickworks, and Mrs. Thomson’s father was the late Dr. R. H. Thomas of Ibstock, whose son-in-law, Dr. C. S. Agnew, now carries on the practice.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday July 28th, 1916

MEMORIAL TO LOCAL OFFICERS

DEDICATION SERVICE AT GROBY

In the parish church of Groby, the Bishop of Leicester dedicated two windows and a mural tablet erected in the new chancel by Mrs Thompson, of the Grey Lodge, to the glory of God, and of His Church, and in loving memory of her two soldier sons and Trooper W. J. Steer. The windows are on the south sides. The beauty of the design of the two large figures in each window, and the subjects depicted in the two small panels beneath, drew forth many exclamations of admiration, the colouring being exquisitely rich and appropriate. The one representing David and Jonathan is in memory of Samuel Pestell Donald Thompson, lieutenant in the Leicestershire Yeomanry, who was killed in action along with Trooper W. J. Steer, on the Menin-Ypres road on May 13th, 1915, when the Yeomanry fought with such bravery and distinction. On the outbreak of the war Lieut. Thompson at once volunteered for active service, and accompanied his regiment to Flanders. The other window represents St. Michael and St. George, and is in memory of Kenneth Clarke Thompson, Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, who fell in the service of his country at Fleurbaix, on December 1st, 1914. Returning to England from Gibraltar, where the battalion was stationed on the outbreak of war, he left again for the Front, with the 7th Division, in October, 1914. He served for a time as Adjutant to the Battalion, and in recognition of his services during the first battle of Ypres, was mentioned in Sir John French’s first dispatches, the mural tablet in memory of Trooper W. J. Steer, is one of fine alabaster with gold inlaid work, and ends with the words, “Faithful unto death.” The Bishop took for his text, Mark xii., 27, and in simple, but most impressive language preached a sermon which was full of inspiration and encouragement, are one which will long be remembered by those who were present.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 14/10/2017