Brigadier Dr John R Thomson, a long serving member of the National Artillery Association. John was born and raised in North Ayrshire and, although he settled in Edinburgh from 1989, returned to his family area last year.
Widely recognised by his gentlemanly and pleasant approach to everyone, John had a great sense of humour which he used regularly to place people at their ease, and this was evident in his many of his interactions with other people.
A man of honour, with a distinguished military career, John had attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1972 and was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery in 1973. He was fluent in French and attended the “Ecole Militaire” in Paris in 1988. He also attended the “NATO Defence College” in Rome (1999) and the “Defence Strategic Leaders’ Programme” at the Defence Academy near Swindon (2003).
John was BK of 289 (Commando) Battery RA a part of 29 (Commando) Regt RA. As a Major, John commanded a Company of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and afterwards joined 105 Regiment RA as Second in Command. In 1991 John took command of 105 Regiment RA and hosted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II when she inspected the saluting troop at Edinburgh Castle. Following promotion to Colonel, John accepted a post at HQ Scotland and, later in the 1990’s, he was promoted to Brigadier and was appointed Deputy Inspector General – Territorial Army.
In addition, John was a Vice President and former Chairman of the National Artillery Association and member for over 30 years. Chair of the RA Council of Scotland, a member of the Edinburgh Branch of the RAA, John was Honorary Colonel Commandant RA and Honorary Colonel of 105 Regt RA and also of GUOTC. He was also a member of the City of Edinburgh Artillery Officers Association, a Board Member of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, and a Trustee of Poppy Scotland.
In 2008, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant, for the City of Edinburgh, to represent Her Majesty the Queen.
His civilian career ranged from the Whisky Heritage Centre in Edinburgh to the Business School of Edinburgh Napier University where he was a Senior Lecturer with extensive lecturing abroad. In later life he added a PhD to his already impressive range of qualifications
Brigadier John was a constant promoter of the Royal Artillery, the Reserve Forces and the National Artillery Association and who will be sadly missed by all.
