Joseph Thompson was the son of Robert Thompson, of Ballylough, Bushmills, County Antrim, Ireland.

'By November 1918 the British were advancing quickly and Joseph was part of a medical unit going to set up a new medical aid post near the front lines. It was 7.00am on a misty morning. The mist was swirling and it suddenly cleared enough for them to be spotted by a German Machine Gun team 30 yards away. They opened fire and Joseph was hit in the side. The others managed to find cover at the road-side and were pinned down for an hour. By the time they got back to Joe, he was dead. He was buried close to where he fell and was later removed to Romeries Communal Cemetery where he lies today.

His brother James, who was also in New Zealand, also served but survived the war. Another brother, William Thomas joined the R.A.F., but it is believed didn't see much action and emigrated to Dunedin in 1920.

In October 1916, Joseph's father purchased another farm five miles away and the family moved from Ballybogey, where Joe had been born, to Ballylough. This meant that when Joe came home on leave in September 1918 he would not know where to come to. I can distinctly remember my father telling me that he walked from the new home to meet the train at Ballymoney, a distance of 8 miles, and they both walked home together.' as told by Joseph's nephew. AWMM