Name
Gordon Thorne
1885
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/08/1917
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3558
East Surrey Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TILLOY BRITISH CEMETERY, TILLOY-LES-MOFFLAINES
I. J. 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN MEMORY EVER DEAR
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Gordon Thorn was born in Great Missenden, Bucks in 1885, the son of William and Annie Thorne, and one of nine children.
His father was a Coachman/Groom and on the 1891 Census the family were living at 50 Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead next door to the Smeathman family whose sons Julian and Cecil died on the same day in 1914.
By 1901 they had moved to 62 Cotterells, Hemel Hempstead and 15 year old Gordon was working as a Moulder's Apprentice at the Boxmoor Iron Works at Marlowes.
In 1904 Gordon enlisted into the 2nd Hertfordshire Volunteers (a territorial force) and signed up for 4 years. He would then have received a payment and been required to attend an annual camp and regular training meetings during the year. He re-enlisted in 1908 for another four years with the 4th East Anglian Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
His family remained living at 62 Cotterells. His father having died, his widowed mother was listed as taking in laundry on the 1911 Census and five of Gordon's siblings were living with her. Gordon lived in Kilburn, Middlesex on enlistment.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war, having been with the territorial force, he volunteered straight away and joined the East Surrey Regiment. He was initially posted to the 2nd Battalion for training and went to France on 27 April 1915, joining the Battalion at Zonnebeke a few days later, but was then transferred to the 7th (Service) Battalion with thirty other experienced 'old soldiers'. They came together near Armentieres in September 1915 and then fought in the Battle of Loos, followed by action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt where heavy casualties were sustained.
By June 1916 preparations were beginning for the Somme offensive and on 2 July Gordon was in action in the Battle of Albert, followed by numerous attacks throughout August and early September.
The following year the East Surreys were again in action at the Battle of Arras, with the First Battle of the Scarpe on 9 April, with heavy casualties. This was followed by the Second Battle of the Scarpe in early May with more casualties for the 7th Battalion, after which there was some relief with a Sports Day and practical training. They were then in reserve at Monchy but came under enemy shelling in early August.
On 4 August Gordon was one of three men wounded when acting as Scouts in a forward position. He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station but died of his wounds the following day, aged 32. He is buried at Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-Les-Mofflaines, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £13 10s and pay owing of £7 19s 1d. She may also have received a pension but the amount on records is unclear. His mother, Mrs Annie Thorne, 62 Cotterells, Hemel Hempstead, ordered his headstone inscription: "IN MEMORY EVER DEAR". Gordon's brother William served with the Royal Field Artillery and survived the war.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com.
