The Times/1924/Obituary/Harold Lyon Thomson

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Obituary.
Captain H. L. Thomson.

We regret to announce that Captain Harold Lyon Thomson, M.I.E.E., of 34, St. James's-street, died yesterday of pneumonia in a nursing home after a very short illness, at the age of 63.

The elder son of Robert Thomson, the inventor of the pneumatic tire, he inherited from him a genius for mechanics. This he made full use of when the Great War broke out, for, although then in his 53rd year, within 12 days he had volunteered and was out in France with a commission in the Army Service Corps, where his instinct for the quickest and and best methods of transport were invaluable. He served in the Army until the Armistice, Captain Thomson was well acquainted with French and Arabic, and was deeply and widely read. He was a member of many learned societies, including the Society of Antiquaries, and was an ardent Freemason, a past Grand Master of the Ubique Lodge. In Westminster, where he lived for many years, he did work of great public value on the City Council, of which he was an alderman. He was Mayor of Westminster in 1912-13, chairman of important committees, and treasurer of the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee. He instituted the daily collection of house refuse in Westminster, and introduced methods which proved to be more sanitary and economical than the old haphazard system. The new salvage plant for Westminster was the subject of an article in The Times of December 27 last. Captain Thomson's cleverness with his fingers was remarkable, and he could execute the most delicate goldsmith's work. He had just completed a fairy-like set of saucepans for the Queen's Dolls' House. He was Consul-General for Albania in London, a member of the Royal Company of Archers, a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John, and an officer of the Legion of Honour and of the Belgian Order of Leopold. He leaves a brother Sir Courtauld Thomson.

The funeral will be at Brompton Cemetery to-morrow, after service at St. George's Hanover-square, at 11 o'clock.

At the meeting of the Westminster City Council yesterday, the Mayor (Mr. Edgar Horne) paid a tribute to the late alderman, who, he said, possessed imagination and broad views, and had a great belief in the future welfare of Westminster. Lord Jessel referred to Captain Thomson's fleet of motor-lorries, which were of enormous service in the early days of the war after Mons. Few men had so entirely and unstintingly devoted themselves to public life, and no man had give more of his best to Westminster and its citizens. A vote of condolence with the members of the family was adopted.