UNIQUE TO UNIT WW2 S.E. ASIA MEDALS 2091466 JAMES THOMSON ROYAL ENGINEERS

Offered is a set of five medals to Acting Sergeant James Thomson, who served with the 24^th Field Company (Royal Bombay), Royal Engineers and earned the distinction of earning the only clasp S.E. Asia 1945-46 to his General Service Medal of the entire unit

1939 ? 45 Star, British Defence and War Medals (1939 - 45) all un named as issued, General Service Medal (1918- 62), clasp S.E.ASIA 1945 - 46, impressed named 2091466 CPL. J.G.R. THOMSON. R.E., Efficiency Medal, Territorial (G.VII.), impressed named 2091466. CPL. J.G.R. THOMSON. R.E. Swing mounted as worn. Comes with copies of: Medal roll, 1939 census and extracts from the book The Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners 1939 - 1947.

Acting Sergeant James G. R. Thomson appears on the 1939 census as being born on the 13/1/1917 and working as a domestic servant in Guildford.

The medal roll for the GSM with clasp S.E. ASIA 1945 - 46 records that he served with the 24^th Field Company (Royal Bombay), Royal Engineers. This is an Indian Army unit with a few British Officers and N.C.O's. The clasp awarded to Thomson being unique to 24 (RB) Indian Field Company, Royal Engineers.

They had been the field company for the 46^th Indian Beach Group for the 'Zipper' landing (The beach landing in Malaya) but on cancellation of the operation landed in the area around Batavia where they were otherwise employed.

A most unusual group in that whilst Acting Sergeant Thomson qualified for the1939 - 45 Star, he did not qualify for the Burma Star, so perhaps he was a B.E.F. veteran, who was involved in training duties or recovering from wounds sustained during the bulk of the war.