Special Constabulary Long Service Medal. GVI first issue (Raymond Thompson)

Wiltshire Special Constabulary: The recipient (a Newspaper Director & General Manager) is confirmed as being a member of the Swindon unit of the Wiltshire Special Constabulary in 1939 (reference the National Register for England & Wales, 1939),

Awarded circa 1937-1947

The recipient would also be entitled to a Defence Medal if he served for 3 years continuous or aggregated service during the War years 1939-1944

The North Wilts Herald issue of 28 July 1939, contained the below following article pertaining to Raymond Thompson, including a captioned portrait photograph of the recipient:

Quote,

NEWSPAPERS IN WARTIME

Government and the Provincial Press

At the meeting of the Three Shires branch of the Newspaper Society - the organisation of the provincial newspapers - at Cheltenham on Monday, Mr. Raymond Thompson, Director and General Manager of the Swindon Press Ltd., was elected president.

The president of the Parent Society, Mr. W. T. Bailey, joint managing director of the Westminster Press Provincial Newspapers Ltd., with which "The North Wilts Herald" is associated, was entertained to lunch, and at the subsequent meeting he was cordially welcomed by the retiring president, Mr. T. Bell, J.P., of the "Gloucester Citizen."

In the course of his review of current activities of the Newspaper Society, Mr. Bailey was able to the assure the local members that the Government did realise the importance of maintaining in wartime the production of provincial newspapers and would definitely cooperate with their producers to that end by controlling the supply of the necessary raw materials. The members subsequently passed a resolution approving the principle of mutual assistance, which implies that each newspaper-producing firm will assist its neighbour in the event of one or the other being incapacitated by enemy action in wartime.

Two members present reported that they had already entered into the definite arrangements with other offices on these lines.

Mr. P. T. Austin, "Redditch Indicator," was elected vice-president.

Mr. H. C. Grimwade, (Three Forest of Dean Newspapers, Ltd.), who was re-appointed hon. secretary and treasurer for the eleventh time, referred in his report to the death during the year of a former president of the society, Mr. W. G. R. Stone, J.P., of Worcester.

Unquote

Raymond Thompson, second son of Donald Osborne Thompson (a 'Train Attendant') and Elizabeth Hall Thompson (nee Buckle), was a native of, Darlington, Co. Durham, England where he was born on, 13 June 1901 (baptized 26 June 1901). At the time of the compilation of the 1911 National Census for England & Wales, he is shown living with his parents at the family residence located at, 139 Spencer Street, Heaton. Newcastle-on-Tyne. During the third quarter of 1927, Raymond married Kathleen Cox, at Darlington, Co. Durham, England. At the time of the compilation of the National Register for England & Wales in 1939, Raymond is shown residing, with his wife Kathleen, at, 59 Marlborough Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, where he is shown recorded as employed as a Newspaper General Manager & Director, and as a serving member of the 'Wiltshire Special Constabulary'.

Condition: EF

Code: 22970