Gordon Thomson (rower)

Gordon Lindsay Thomson
Thomson at Tenedos, Gallipoli, June 1915, photographed by M. Knatchbull
Born	(1884-03-27)27 March 1884 Battersea, Surrey, England
Died	8 July 1953(1953-07-08) (aged 69) Staplehurst, Kent, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy Royal Air Force
Years of service	1914–1919
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held	No. 207 Squadron RAF No. 215 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars	World War I • Gallipoli Campaign • Western Front
Awards	Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Flying Cross Mention in despatches (×2)

Gordon Lindsay Thomson DSC, DFC (27 March 1884 – 8 July 1953) was an English rower who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics for Great Britain. During the First World War he served as a pilot in the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force.

Thomson was born in Battersea, Surrey, the second of four children of Benjamin Thomas Lindsay Thomson and his wife Esther Florence (née Bowker). He was educated at University College School in Hampstead and Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Thomson partnered John Fenning at stroke in the coxless pairs to win the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics. Later in the same afternoon he and Fenning were in the Leander coxless four with Philip Filleul and Harold Barker which won a silver medal, losing to the Magdalen College, Oxford crew.

In 1909, Thomson was a member of the Cambridge crew in the Boat Race, and won his rowing blue. In 1910, he won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta partnering John Burn to beat Albertus Wielsma and Bernardus Croon. He was also a rugby player who played for UCS Old Boys, London Scottish and Surrey.