William Robert James Thorp
Memorial: Downend - Christ Church
Regiment: Royal Defence Corps (263 Protection Company)
Medals: Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Silver War Badge
Rank and number: Private 11414 - formerly 3523, 4th Batalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (Local Guard)
Parents: Robert and Mary Thorp (Nee Wood)
Marital status: Married
Home address: Home Address: North Street, Downend, Bristol Lived: From the 1871 Census until his marriage, William lived in Westbury on Trym, Bristol
Pre-war occupation: Postman
Date of birth: 29/06/1867
Place of birth: St. Helens, Jersey
Date of death: 29/06/1917
Buried/Commemorated at: Christ Church Downend
Age: 50
Further information:
William was born on 29/06/1867 in St. Helens, Jersey and was Baptised on 17/07/1867 at St. Helier. Most records record the surname as Thorp, and William used this spelling when signing the 1911 Census and enlistment papers. William married Jemima Long on 6/09/1899 at Holy Trinity Church, Westbury on Trym. William and Jemima had one son, Harold William Henry born 23/03/1903. After the war Jemima married a George Branton in 1922, and lived at 2 Cleeve Road, Downend.
William enlisted in September 1914, having claimed previous military service with the Border Regiment, he was discharged from the RDC on 29/11/1916 suffering from Pulmonary Turberculosis. William lied about his age upon enlistment, as the upper age limit was 45.
No medals awarded as he did not serve overseas, but he would have received a Silver War Badge and his family would have received a Memorial Plaque.
William died on 29/6/1917 from Turberculosis – on his birthday.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Findmypast (Soldiers Died during the Great War, 1901 & 1911 Census etc), Researcher John Davis.