Career
Thomson joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1899. He served in World War I and commanded the destroyer HMS Petard at the Battle of Jutland. He was appointed Commander of the Third Destroyer Flotilla in 1926, Captain-in-charge in Singapore in 1929 and Commander of the HMS Street Vincent boys" training establishment in Gosport in 1932.
He went on to be Commander of the Home Fleet Destroyer Flotillas in 1935 and Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Scotland in 1937.
He retired in 1939.