Muriel Thompson

Muriel Thompson (10 June 1875 – 3 March 1939) was a decorated Scottish World War I ambulance driver, racing driver and suffragist.

Muriel Thompson
Muriel Thompson in the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry
Born(1875-06-10)10 June 1875
Aberdeen, Scotland
Died3 March 1939(1939-03-03) (aged 63)
London, England
Resting placeBrompton Cemetery, London
NationalityScottish
Known fordecorated World War I ambulance driver, racing driver, suffragist
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Order of Leopold II
Croix de Guerre
Military Medal

Early life and family

Thompson was born on 10 June 1875 in Aberdeen, Scotland to Agnes Marion Williamson (1846–1926), the second wife of Cornelius Thompson, a shipowner and marine architect. She was the fifth of eight children.[1] Her grandfather George Thompson had been Lord Provost of Aberdeen and an MP (1852) for the city.[1]

Racing driver and chauffeur for the WSPU

Thompson was an avid motorist, and from an early age she drove the family car. She and her brothers helped found the Brooklands Automobile Racing Club. On 4 July 1908 she won the first ladies’ motor race held at Brooklands,[2] the Ladies' Bracelet Handicap. She won in her brother's Austin racing car, with a speed of 50 miles per hour (80 km/h).[1] She also won the Scratch Motor Car Race.[3]

Thompson was hired as a chauffeur for the Women's Social and Political Union, and drove Emmeline Pankhurst on her national tour in 1909.

War service

During World War I Thompson was a driver for the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (FANY), joining in January 1915. The role included a requirement to perform mechanical maintenance tasks on the vehicles. In 1916 she was second in command to Lilian Franklin on the first expedition in support of the British Army (the FANY had previously assisted the Belgians and the French).[1]

Awards

On 29 March 1915 she was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Leopold II, by King Albert for evacuating wounded Belgian soldiers under fire near Diksmuide. Thompson was also awarded the Military Medal and the Croix de Guerre for courage under fire while moving injured during bombing raid in May 1918.[1]

Later life

After the war Thompson lived in Kensington in London. She died at her home on 3 March 1939 of encephalitis lethargica. She was buried in Brompton cemetery, London.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Thompson, Muriel Annie (1875–1939), volunteer ambulance driver and member of the FANY". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/68164. Retrieved 25 June 2018. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. "Short frogged dress jacket worn by Miss Lillian A M Franklin, First Aid Nursing Yeomanry, 1909 (c) - Online Collection - National Army Museum, London". Collection.nam.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
  3. "Brooklands Women: Muriel Thompson". Brooklands Museum. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
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