Thompson, Ben (P1R, C1, L13)

Private Ben Thompson, 19, of London, Laurel County died of lobar pneumonia while on federal active duty at Camp Shelby with his unit – Company A, 149th Infantry at the Camp Shelby base hospital on 11 Dec 1917.

Thompson enlisted in Company A of the 2nd Kentucky Infantry Regiment on 29 June 1917. He listed his civilian occupation as a farmer and that he was born in Bell County. His mother lived in London at the time of his enlistment.

No information has been found on where he is buried.

FOUR KENTUCKIANS DIE AT CAMP SHELBY

The Courier-Journal, Dec 14, 1917 P 2

Hattiesburg, Miss., Dec. 13 – Six soldiers have died at the Base Hospital at Camp Shelby since Monday night from Pneumonia, it was announced today. They were privates John C. Hollie, Company E, 113th Engineers of Indiana; John Huff, Company A, 150th Infantry, Tridett, Ky.; Elliott L. Craig, a member of the military police, Hazel, Ky; Samuel D. Riley, Battery A 139th Field Artillery Greensburg, Ind; Ben Thompson, Company A, 149th Infantry, London, Ky., and Frank Street, Company C, 149th Infantry, Madisonville, Ky.