10 FLY HALF Patrick Godfrey Thompson – BROUGHT DOWN BY ENEMY FLAK

Patrick Gordon Thompson was born in Sunderland in 1913 and was killed in action in 1941. He played fly half for the club in the early to mid-1930s. His father was a G P north of the river and Patrick was educated at Durham School. He became a sergeant observer in 59 squadron of the RAF the task of which was to patrol the channel. He was on a night time reconnaissance mission over Cherbourg when the plane, a Lockheed Hudson V, was downed by enemy flak. The plane crashed into Cherbourg Harbour killing all on board. At first he was posted missing and his fate was not confirmed until February 1942. His name appears on Durham School’s Roll of Honour. He was buried in Cherbourg.