Name
Christopher Thorp
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/09/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
17097
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAC-DU-SUD BRITISH CEMETERY, BAILLEULVAL
I. F. 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH
UK & Other Memorials
Chipperfield Village Memorial, St Paul's Church Memorial, Chipperfield.
Pre War
Christopher Thorp was born in 1895, in Chipperfield, Hertfordshire, son of John Thorp, a Groom, and Louisa (nee Hill) Thorp. One of six children two died in infancy.
He was Baptised on 4 August 1895, in the Parish of Chipperfield, Herts.
1901 Census records Christopher aged 5, living with his parents, two sisters, Alice (14) and Florence (10), in, Tower Hill, Chipperfield, Herts.
1911 Census records Christopher aged 15, working as a Domestic Gardener, living with his parents, and younger brother Percy (9), in, Tower Hill, Chipperfield, Herts.
Wartime Service
Christopher enlisted at Watford, Herts, in September 1914, posted to the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment with the service number 17097. On completion of their training at the Army Training Area around Woking, Surrey, the Battalion was mobilized for war on 28 August 1915. The Battalion embarked at Dover and sailed for Boulogne, France, arriving early on the 30 August 1915. The Battalion served in France and Flanders seeing action in most of the Major Battles.
On 16th February 1918, the 8th Battalion was disbanded, and the men transferred to other Battalions in the Regiment. This was due to a major restructuring of the British Army. Christopher was transferred to the 4th Battalion. He died on 2 September 1918, of wounds received in action, aged 23.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs. John Thorp, Tower Hill, Chipperfield, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH", His mother Louisa received a Dependents Pension of 6/- a week from18 March 1919, and his effects of £15-12s-0d, Pay Owing and a £19, War Gratuity.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
