We regret to advise of the recent death of Sapper Archie Thompson, Canada's oldest First World War veteran.
A 107-year-old retired railway engineer from the Petrolia area, Archie died 2 September 2003 at his cottage at Old Woman's River, near Stokes Bay, ON and was buried on 6 September in Sarnia. This summer, Archie Thompson had received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for his wartime service. He had gone unrecognized for years as he had never applied for veterans' benefits. When he received the award, Thompson was the oldest of the 13 surviving Canadian veterans of the First World War.
Born in Ireland, he emigrated to Canada in 1912. Archie was drafted into the Royal Engineers and shipped to Britain as the war was winding down and did not see action. Returning to Canada after the war, he followed a career with Canadian National Rail and retired in 1962.
Donations to the charity of choice would be preferred by the family.