Name
Guy Deane Thorley
1900
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/08/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
60958
Bedfordshire Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SHENLEY (ST. BOTOLPH) CHURCHYARD
South of Church door.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
[Private family grave]
UK & Other Memorials
St Botolph's Church Memorial, Shenleybury (now lost) (*1), Not on the Shenley Memorial
Pre War
Guy Deane Thorley was born in 1900 at Ringdale Manor, Fernham, Berkshire, the son of Joseph and Mary Thorley (nee Robertson). His father was the owner of animal food manufacturer, Thorley's Foods, with a factory in King's Cross, London which was established in 1851 by Joseph Thorley (Snr) Horace's grandfather.
At the time of the 1901 Census the family were living at Fernham Village and his father was said to be 'living on own means'. (N.B. Guy is listed as 'Gerald'). They employed four servants. His mother died in 1903 at Fernham and his father remarried in 1905 to Lilian Marion Tipper and they had a daughter Kathleen (Guy's half sister) in 1910.
In 1911 Guy was a boarder at Elstree Lodge School in Bexhill, Sussex. He was later educated at Tonbridge School, Kent. (His brothers Joseph and Horace also attended the school).
He was living at Wood Hall, Shenley when he enlisted.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford, joining the Bedfordshire Regiment and was attached to the 19th Officer Cadet Battalion. He served in the UK at the Depot.
Guy died at Napsbury Military Hospital, St Albans, Herts on 3 August 1918, aged 18, and is buried in Shenley (St Botolphs) Churchyard, Shenleybury, Herts.
Additional Information
*1 Believed named on the lost memorial.
His father received pay owing of £2 1s 11d. No war gratuity appears to have been paid. His father obtained probate of his estate in London on 5 December 1918 with effects of £218 1s 1d.
Guy’s grave in Shenley (St. Botolph) Churchyard, Shenleybury has a headstone which also commemorates his brother Horace. Their inscription reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
CADET GUY DEANE THORLEY. YOUNGEST SON OF JOSEPH THORLEY OF WOOD HALL, SHENLEY. WHO DIED IN NAPSBURY MILITARY HOSPITAL. AUGUST 3RD 1918. AGED 19 YEARS.
ALSO OF HORACE WILLIAM. SECOND SON. LIEUT. 17TH LANCERS.
KILLED IN ACTION AUGUST 8TH 1918, AGED 23 YEARS. AND BURIED IN CAYEUX-EN-SANTERRE, FRANCE.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
