George Henry Thorne

Gunner 2498 George Henry Thorne D Battery 75th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery died aged 23 on 28th March 1918.

George was born in London and baptised at St Jude’s, Whitechapel on 12th August 1895 the son of Christopher, a butcher, and Lucy Thorne of 36 St Jude Street. Christopher Joseph Thorne had married Lucy Hoar at St Mary’s Church Newington on 5th February 1888. When he was 16 George was also employed as a journeyman butcher, living with his brother William in Stoke Newington. The 1911 census shows Christopher, by then a widower, living at Gresham Villa, South Woodham Ferrers. Sadly George’s brother Francis was also killed in action 25th September 1915.

George volunteered for service in the British Army, signing up in London, and was assigned to D Battery LXXV (75th) (Howitzer) Brigade Royal Field Artillery. He landed in France on 22nd August 1915 when his unit was attached to the Guards Division as part of the 3rd Army. He would have seen much action in the following months including The Battle of The Somme in July 1916, the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the 3rd Battle of Ypres 1917.

Following the Russian surrender and the collapse of the Eastern Front huge numbers of German troops were transferred to the Western Front as the German High Command knew they had to use this advantage before the arrival of fresh United States troops following their entry into the war on the allies side. The German Spring Offensive started on 21st March 1918 and George would have been involved in the battles of St Quentin 21st - 23rd March and Baupaume 24th - 25th March leading up to the 1st Battle of Arras which started on 28th March. British troops had not been involved in defensive battles since the 2nd Battle of Ypres in 1915. As a gunner his position would have been under fire before the German attack on 28th when he was killed.

He is buried at Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery, Foncquellers which contains the remains of 750 Great War casualties of which nearly two thirds are unidentified. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star together with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was just 23 when he was killed.

His father Christopher died 3rd May 1923 still living in South Woodham Ferrers.