Gordon Thomson (rower)
Encyclopedia
Gordon Lindsay Thomson (27 March 1884 – 8 July 1953) was a British
rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics
.
Thomson was born in Wandsworth
, London. He was educated at University College School
in Hampstead
and Trinity Hall, Cambridge
.
Thomson partnered John Fenning
at stroke
in the coxless pair
s to win the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics
. Later in the same afternoon he and Fenning were in the Leander coxless four
with Philip Filleul
and Harold Barker
which won a silver medal, losing to the Magdalen College, Oxford
crew.
In 1909, Thomson was a member of the Cambridge
crew in the Boat Race, and won his rowing blue. In 1910, he won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
partnering John Burn
to beat Albertus Wielsma
and Bernardus Croon
. He was also a rugby player who played for UCS Old Boys, London Scottish and Surrey.
At the outbreak of World War I
, Thomson joined the Royal Naval Air Service
and became Flight Lieutenant in 1915 and Flight Commander in 1916. He was awarded the DSC for his photographic work at low altitudes over enemy lines in Gallipoli. He also won the DFC and thus earned a rare “double” of medals for gallantry.
Thomson died at Staplehurst
, Kent
at the age of 69.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
.
Thomson was born in Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, London. He was educated at University College School
University College School
University College School, generally known as UCS, is an Independent school charity situated in Hampstead, north west London, England. The school was founded in 1830 by University College London and inherited many of that institution's progressive and secular views...
in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
and Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
.
Thomson partnered John Fenning
John Fenning
John Reginald Keith Fenning was a British doctor and rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.Fenning was born in Fulham, London. He entered London Hospital Medical College in January 1904 but it took him thirteen years to complete his course. He became a rower for Leander Club...
at stroke
Stroke (rowing)
Stroke is a term which has multiple meanings within the sport of rowing. It is used to refer to the action of propelling the boat with oars, to a rower seated in a particular position and to one side of the boat.-Stroke action:...
in the coxless pair
Coxless pair
A Coxless pair is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of a pair of rowers, each having one oar, one on the stroke side and one on the bow side...
s to win the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics
At the 1908 Summer Olympics, four rowing events were contested, all for men only. Races were held at Henley-on-Thames. The competitions were held from July 28, 1908 to July 31, 1908. There was one fewer event in 1908 than 1904, after the double sculls was dropped from the programme...
. Later in the same afternoon he and Fenning were in the Leander coxless four
Coxless four
A coxless four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of four rowers, each having one oar. There are two rowers on the stroke side and two on the bow side...
with Philip Filleul
Philip Filleul
Philip Rowland Filleul was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.Filleul was born at Bath, Somerset...
and Harold Barker
Harold Barker
Harold Ross Barker was a British rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.Barker was born at Marylebone, London. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford and was a member of the Oxford crew in the Boat Race in 1908...
which won a silver medal, losing to the Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
crew.
In 1909, Thomson was a member of the Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
crew in the Boat Race, and won his rowing blue. In 1910, he won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
partnering John Burn
John Burn
John Southerden Burn was an English doctor and rower who competed for Great Britain in the 1908 Summer Olympics....
to beat Albertus Wielsma
Albertus Wielsma
Albertus Wielsma was a Dutch rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.He was a member of the Dutch boat, which won the bronze medal in the coxless fours.-External links:*...
and Bernardus Croon
Bernardus Croon
Bernardus Hermanus Croon was a Dutch rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics.He was the strokeman of the Dutch boat, which won the bronze medal in the coxless fours.-External links:...
. He was also a rugby player who played for UCS Old Boys, London Scottish and Surrey.
At the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Thomson joined the Royal Naval Air Service
Royal Naval Air Service
The Royal Naval Air Service or RNAS was the air arm of the Royal Navy until near the end of the First World War, when it merged with the British Army's Royal Flying Corps to form a new service , the Royal Air Force...
and became Flight Lieutenant in 1915 and Flight Commander in 1916. He was awarded the DSC for his photographic work at low altitudes over enemy lines in Gallipoli. He also won the DFC and thus earned a rare “double” of medals for gallantry.
Thomson died at Staplehurst
Staplehurst
Staplehurst can mean:* Staplehurst in England* RAF Staplehurst, a World War II airfield in England* Staplehurst railway station* Staplehurst rail crash, a railway accident in 1865* Staplehurst, Nebraska, a small village in the United States...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
at the age of 69.