Sad news – Warrant Officer Wally Thompson – the first Regimental Sergeant Major – ARMY has passed away today, a true gentleman and a soldiers soldier.

Stand-down Sir, your duty is done.

Duty First – Lest We Forget
Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Wallace (Wally) Talbot Claxton Thompson joined the Citizen’s Military Forces (CMF) in 1950 and was called up in 1951 for National Service. He did two tours of Malaysia, on the second occasion serving with the British Army, then went to Vietnam in 1964 with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. He served a second tour with the First Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), fighting in 1968 and again in 1971 as RSM of 4RAR.

In 1983 he became the first appointee to the position of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Army (RSM-A), which put him in a position where he reported directly to the Chief of the General Staff.