12th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers and 84th Company, Machine Gun Corps.

Awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 26 September 1916.

Thomlinson was a native of Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America. He was however living in Burnley at the outbreak of war with his widowed mother who had remarried and was licensee at the Salford Hotel, Royle Street, Burnley.

Thomlinson landed in France with the 12th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers on the 2 August 1915. Shortly afterwards he was commissioned from the rank of Sergeant (7570) to be 2/Lieutenant from the 24 September 1915.

The citation for the award of the Military Cross shows, "For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He went over the parapet with a machine gun and assisted in leading the platoons, which had been held up by enemy machine gun fire. When his position became untenable, he fetched in a wounded man, who was hit again and killed on his back. He also helped to bring in another wounded man the next day from 'No Man's Land' under heavy fire".

The Burnley Express of 7 October 1916 reported; ANOTHER MILITARY CROSS. Award for Burnley Officers Gallantry. Congratulations will be extended to Mr. and Mrs. Nuttall of the Salford Hotel, Royle Street, Burnley on the gaining of the Military Cross by their son. This has been awarded for gallantry in the field and devotion to duty on the afternoon of 19 July 1916. Second Lieutenant Francis Beattie Thomlinson who has secured the award, is Mr. Nuttall's step son, and though his profession has largely kept him in other parts of the country, he has often been to Burnley and is well known to friends of Mr. and Mrs. Nuttall. After completing his education at an higher grade school, Lieutenant Thomlinson entered the laboratory at the Harrington Iron Works, and later he transferred to the Sieman's department at the Derwent Works of the Workington Iron and Steel Company taking over the Harrington concern. He subsequently left the Combine on securing an appointment at Blenavon, South Wales as assistant Sieman's manager. A few weeks later he was promoted to manager. On the outbreak of war he was analytical engineer at the Irlam Iron Works, Manchester.

Between the war although living at 23, Colne Road, Burnley he travelled the world extensively following his occupation of engineer and merchant seaman.

During World War 2 he served as a captain in the Auxiliary Pioneer Corps.

Born on the 2 September 1893, Francis Beattie Thomlinson passed away in May of 1952.