THOMSON Ian Alexander
public servant and career soldier 1925-2000

Ian Thomson was born at Temora in 1925.   He began his working life in 1939 with the NSW Public Service, but in 1943 enlisted in the AIF and commenced training with 14 Inf Trg Bn. Being under age for operational service, his first posting was to 41/2 Inf Bn, then after training at Canungra in 1944, he was posted to 2/23 Aust Inf Bn and saw active service at Tarakan.

At the end of the war Ian volunteered for service with BCOF in Japan in 66 Aust Inf Bn. Returning to Australia in 1947, he left the Army and worked as a taxi driver in Sydney. He re-enlisted into the ARA 1951 and was posted to 101 Coy RAASC Randwick, where he trained as a driver. The next year he was posted to 1 RAR Ingleburn and during the next few years served with 2 RTB and 1 RTB at Kapooka. He was posted to Korea with 1 RAR in 1955.

Returning to Australia, he joined 1 Coy RAASC, followed by postings to: 109 Tpt Pl, RAASC School Puckapunyal as Sgt Instr MT Wing, and 2 Fd Amb Woodside, then in 1964 as CSM 25 Coy RAASC Puckapunyal. Ian went to Vietnam with AATTV in 1966, and on returning to Australia became Wing SM of MT Wing at RAASC Centre Puckapunyal. Then followed postings to JTC Tpt Unit Canungra as CSM and E Comd Trade Trg Centre Randwick. In 1970 he was promoted WO1 and posted as RSM 10 Tpt Colm Ashgrove, then 1 Tpt & Mov Gp Victoria Barracks Brisbane, where he was awarded the AM.  

He left the Army in 1979 and, in company with several others, formed the Army Transport Ex-Members Group (Qld), known today as the Army Transport Association, of which he was president for five years.   

Ian married Dorothy in 1953 and together they raised four children: Wayne, Donna, Brendon and Neil. Ian passed away in Brisbane in October 2000.