Name
Herbert Gordon Thorpe (MC)
13 May 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/03/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
1st Bn.
"A" Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Cross
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BANCOURT BRITISH CEMETERY
IX. A. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
HELD WE FALL TO RISE, ARE BAFFLED TO FIGHT BETTER, SLEEP TO WAKE.
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial,
United Reformed Church Memorial, Bishop's Stortford,
Rugby School Memorial Chapel
Pre War
Herbert Gordon Thorpe (known as Gordon) was born at Acton, Middlesex, on 13th May, 1895, the second son of Herbert William (a draper & haberdasher) and Lizzie Thorpe.
The family moved to The Pavement, St Ives, Huntingdon and later to Rugby. They were living at Warwick House, Ventnor, Isle of Wight in on the 1911 Census. They then moved to Cheltenham until in 1917 they settled in 'Katoomba', Warwick Rd, Bishop's Stortford.
Herbert was educated at Rugby School but after only two terms left for University College, Southampton where he passed the London Inter-Arts Examination with honours.
Wartime Service
He originally enlisted as a Private No. 24323 in 11th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regt on 21st August, 1915, was quickly promoted to NCO, serving as a Bombing Instructor with 94th Training Btn. Chislehurst.
Finding this kept him in England, he applied for, and got, a commission in the King's Liverpool Regt on 29/8/17, crossing to France in October of that year for service with 1/9th Battalion. During the German Spring offensive of March 1918, his Battalion, having just been relieved for rest, receive sudden orders and was sent back to the front line, facing Verlu Wood, to help stem the German breakthrough. At about 09:20 a.m. 'C' Company was heavily shelled and in the aftermath only 8 other ranks were fit for duty. The enemy attacked soon after, and heavy fighting ensued. Although the King's line held, other units on its flanks were penetrated, and about noon orders were given to fall back. The retreat was covered by the Battalion machine gunners who took heavy losses. By about 2:30 p.m. all men of the brigade, who could be found, were manning the new line, the effective strength of the 1st Kings was only 60 men. A second retirement was ordered at 3 p.m. and the brigade fell back once more but this time the line was held. At first, Lieutenant Thorpe was posted as missing, believed killed in action, but his remains were found by units of the Graves Registration Department in October 1919. He and some of his men had been buried by the Germans and when found were re-interred in Bancourt British Cemetery.
He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross. The citation for the award stated: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in leading a daylight raid. On two previous occasions he attempted to raid a post, but was frustrated owing to enemy machine guns and the wire being uncut. He also did very good work carrying out reconnaissance and bringing back valuable information." - London Gazette 23/07/1918
Additional Information
His father, Mr H W Thorpe, "Katoomba", Warwick Rd., Bishop's Stortford, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "HELD WE FALL TO RISE, ARE BAFFLED TO FIGHT BETTER, SLEEP TO WAKE.".
His father Herbert William was awarded a war gratuity of £14 10s and pay owing of £61 8s 6d.
The story of Gordon Thorpe was told in the Antiques Roadshow programme from Etaples Cemetery aired on 14 November 2021.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.9thkings.co.uk (website dedicated to the 9th Btn, King's Liverpool Regiment), Antiques Roadshow
