Biography.guide
Home › People › Military personnel › Jock Thompson
Portrait of Jock Thompson

Jock Thompson

1904 – 1978

Rhodesian cricketer

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Jock Thompson

Lived 1904 – 1978 (aged 73). Jock Thompson was a military personnel and cricketer.

John de Lisle Thompson OBE (12 July 1904 – 11 April 1978) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Rhodesia from 1928 to 1936, and a soldier.

Life and career Jock Thompson was born in Cape Town but educated at Milton High School in Bulawayo, where he was head prefect in 1924 and captained the cricket and rugby teams.

In cricket Thompson was a wicket-keeper who often opened the batting. He was Rhodesia's wicket-keeper in 1931-32 when they finished second in the Currie Cup. He scored 28 and 47 that season in the one-wicket victory over Griqualand West. In his last first-class match he captained Rhodesia against the touring Australians in 1935-36. He also represented Rhodesia at rugby.

He was the author of A History of Sport in Southern Rhodesia, published in 1935. During World War II he served as an officer in West Africa, North Africa, and later in Europe, and after the war he became commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion of the Rhodesia Regiment. He was a director of the Thomas Meikle Trust and Investment Company.

He was awarded the OBE in the 1951 New Year Honours.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Awards
Member of the Order of the British Empire
Also known as
John de Lisle Thompson

People in Jock Thompson's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Jock Thompson's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Jock Thompson?

Rhodesian cricketer (1904-1978)

When was Jock Thompson born?

Jock Thompson was born on 12 July 1904 in Cape Town.

When did Jock Thompson die?

Jock Thompson died on 11 April 1978 in Muizenberg.

What was Jock Thompson's occupation?

Jock Thompson was a military personnel and cricketer.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Jock Thompson

· Wikidata: Q81248993

· DBpedia: Jock Thompson (cricketer)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Jock Thompson. https://biography.guide/jock-thompson/

MLA: "Jock Thompson." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/jock-thompson/.

Chicago: "Jock Thompson." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/jock-thompson/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:18 UTC