Second Lieutenant Humphrey Thorn, Norfolk Regiment, Died of Wounds 1916.

This picture appeared in the edition of the Eastern Daily Press dated Saturday, October 21, 1916.

The caption reads:-

SEC.-LIEUTENANT HUMPHREY THORN,
Was the second son of Clifford and Rose Thorn, of Gayton House, Heigham Grove, Norwich, and grandson of the late John Ayris, M. Inst. C.E. He was educated at Gresham School, Holt, where he was a sergeant in the O.T.C. He was articled to Mr. A.E. Collins, the City Engineer, when in September, 1915, being just 18, he joined the Norfolk Regiment. He received his commission in May, 1916, and had been at the front four months, when he was mortally wounded, while, as his commanding officer writes, “gallantry leading his platoon.”

There had previously been an appearance in the Births, Marriages and Deaths column in the addition of the Eastern Daily Press dated Thursday, October 19, 1916.

THORN – October 13, died of wounds received in action, Sec-Lieut. Humphrey Thorn, Norfolk Regiment, elder son of Clifford and Rose Thorn, Gayton House, Norwich, aged 19.

Second Lieutenant THORN, HUMPHREY
Died:………………………….. 13/10/1916
Aged:…………………………. 19
Unit:……………………………3rd Bn. attd. 7th Bn.
…………………………………Norfolk Regiment
Son of Clifford and Rose Thorn, of Norwich.
Buried at HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE
Location: Somme, France
Cemetery/memorial reference: V. A. 4.
Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/272730/thorn,-humphrey/

Soldiers Died in the Great War records that 2/Lt Humphrey Thorn, 7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, Died of Wounds on the 13th October 1916. As with all Officers, no place of birth or residence is shown.

The Medal Index Card for Second- Lieutenant Humphrey Thorn, Norfolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/20/14554
Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D5556584
The card itself shows he landed in France on the 20th June 1916 and was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. As an Officer his medals had to be applied for. This looks to have happened in 1922, although the contacts details are not clear due to the handwriting of the clerk. It looks like “Speeletter R.Thorn” and then a separate entry “Medals to H C. Davies, 11 Prince of Wales Road, Norwich”.

The Service Record for 2/Lieutenant Humphrey Thorn, Norfolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 339/42396
Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1096289

No match on PictureNorfolk, the county image archive.

The Gresham School website has a webpage dedicated to him which includes a picture of Humphrey in one of the school sports teams. He started at the school in September 1911.
Source: www.greshamsatwar.co.uk/RollofHonour.aspx?RecID=43&Ta...

He had also previously attended the Bracondale School.
www.edp24.co.uk/features/when-the-peppermint-boys-of-brac...

There is also a picture of him as a young man in civilian clothes in his webpage on the Lives of the First World War. astreetnearyou.org/person/272730/Second-Lieutenant-Humphr...

The 1917 Probate Calendar records that Humphrey Thorn of Gayton House, Heigham Grove, Norwich, second-lieutenant 3rd battalion attached 7th (service) battalion Norfolk regiment died 13 October 1916 at 38 Casualty Clearing Station France. Administration was granted at the London court on the 1st January 1917 to Clifford Salaman Thorn, motor engineer. His effects were valued at £183 0s 6d.
Source: probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Thorn&y...

1897 – Birth………………………….

The birth of a Humphrey Thorn was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Norwich District in the October to December quarter, (Q4) of 1897.

1901 Census of England & Wales…..

The 3 year old Humphrey Thorn, born Norwich, was recorded living at 72 Mill Hill Road, Norwich. This was the household of his parents Clifford S, (aged 32, a Coachbuilder, born Norwich), and Rose E., (aged 31, born Norwich). The couple also have a 7 month old daughter Barbara, (born Norwich). The couple also have three live in servants.

1911 Census of England & Wales…..

By the time of this census the family had moved to 2 Trinity Street, Norwich. Parents Clifford Salaman, (aged 42, a Motor Engineer & Coachbuilder) and Rose Edith, (aged 41) have been married 15 years and have had three children, all then still alive and living with them. They were:-
Humphrey…..aged 13…..born Norwich
Barbara Nell..aged 10…..born Norwich
Richard……..aged 5……born Norwich
There are also two live in servants.

1911 – 1915 Norfolk Register of Electors

A Clifford “Solomon” Thorn was recorded on the 1911-12 edition as entitled to vote in Parliamentary and City Council elections as he was the (male) householder at 2 Trinity Street, Norwich. He also appears in connection with a property on Prince of Wales Road.
1911-12 edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2C9B-YC1
The 1912-13 edition records that he has moved from 2 Trinity Street to Gayton House, Heigham Grove. He then remains there until production of the electoral register is suspended in 1916.
1912-13 edition.: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CSM-3LL
1913-14 edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CSM-ZK6
1914-15 edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CS9-D6R
He also crops up throughout the period I believe as a landlord of other properties.

Army Career…………………

The Supplement to the London Gazette dated 22nd September 1915 records Humphrey Thorn, Norfolk Regiment, as one of the Cadets and ex-Cadets of the Officer Training Corps to be Second Lieutenant (on probation) effective 23rd September 1915.
Source: www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29305/supplement/9400/d...

He was posted to the establishment of the 3rd Battalion, then stationed at Felixstowe. It was there both for home defence and to train and hold men to be fed through to the fighting battalions of the Regiment.

His Medal Index Card tells us he arrived in France on the 20th June 1916. (The caption to the photo of him above had him in France for four months prior to his death). He was on his way to serve with the 7th Battalion.

The 7th Battalion War Diary simply records that three new officers, (unnamed), joined the Battalion on the 28th June 1916. Until he is listed as wounded in connection with the attack on the 12th October 1916 he does not appear to be mentioned.

On the day………………..

7th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, were part of the 12th (Eastern) Division.

Gueudecourt

12th Div attacked Bayonet Trench and Rainbow Trench in this area. Despite a German MG barrage on the front line at Zero Hour, 8th and 9th Bns, Royal Fusiliers and 6th Buffs made it to their objectives. Later they were forced back.
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=9058&p...

Battalion War Diary

12th October 1916. Flers Trench near Flers.

Today at 2.5pm we attacked BAYONET TRENCH. Last night the assembly trenches were completed + all the battalion lay out in them from 5 a.m. this morning until the attack. The attack was carried out with all four companies in the line, disposed in depth, one platoon behind the other, D on the right C,B,A. On our right, 7th Suffolk Regt and on our left 2nd Royal Scots, 30 Division. Battn HQ remained in BULLS ROAD. The object was to attack was first of all to capture BAYONET+SCABBARD TRENCH and then to sweep up + take LUISENHOF FARM and establish a line beyond it.

At 2.5 pm our artillery barrage commenced + our men advanced to the assault. After advancing about 50 yards, the Hun opened fire with M.G.s from both flanks + from in front. Our troops continued to advance but before reaching the enemys trench ran into barbed wire which had not been cut. The wire coupled with the M.G fire prevented any further advance, and our men lay down in shell holes from where they brought rifle fire to bear on the Germans who were standing up in their trenches shooting at them. We caused considerable casualties in this way to the enemy. After dark we made a further attempt to cut a way through to the enemy’ s trench but the line proved too strong. The survivors then crawled back to our own line and then reformed. The 9th Essex Regt. then relieved us +the Suffolk Regt. In the front line + we came back to FLERS TRENCH, the Reserve lines near FLERS which we are sharing with the Suffolk Regt.

Our casualties during the attack today were

……………………………..Officers…………………………..
Killed……………………….Wounded……………………Missing
2/Lieut C G Shepherd………Capt. J M Howlett………….2/Lieut. H Smith
“ “ S R Mitchley…………Lieut H R G Montgomery….“ “ A Shaw
“ “ C Sizeland……………2/Lieut H Thorn
“ “ F Hogben…………….“ “ W J Jones

………………………….Other Ranks…………………………….
Killed: 36.…………………..Wounded:125.……………….Missing:51
13th October. FLER TRENCH, Today has been devoted to re-organising the Battalion. We have in the trenches now 8 Officers and 350 men in all

The Probate Calendar entry adds that Humphrey died at the 38 Casualty Clearing Station on the 13th October 1916.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage for Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbe, has this this to say in a piece on the history of the cemetery.

Mericourt-l'Abbe is a village approximately 19 kilometres north-east of Amiens and 10 kilometres south-west of Albert. Heilly Station Cemetery is about 2 kilometres south-west of Mericourt-l'Abbe, on the south side of the road to Corbie.

The 36th Casualty Clearing Station was at Heilly from April 1916. It was joined in May by the 38th, and in July by the 2/2nd London..

The burials in this cemetery were carried out under extreme pressure and many of the graves are either too close together to be marked individually, or they contain multiple burials.
Source: www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/27100/heilly-statio...

Mildly photoshopped to minimise impact of damage present on the original image.

Taken on: September 28, 2016

Tags:

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Faces of the Somme 1916

Norwich

Virtual Norwich War Memorial

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Eastern Daily Press Saturday October 21 1916

I do not claim copyright on the original image

Humphrey Thorn

7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment

3rd Battalion attached 7th Battalion Norfolk Regiment

38 Casualty Clearing Station

13th October 1916

13/10/1916 « less

Sets appears in: • In memoria • Dulce et Decorum Est..Pro Patria Mori more » • Read all about it • Faces of the Somme 1916 « less

Groups appears in: • The Great War 1914 - 1918 • Old Soldiers (rest in peace) more » • The Norfolk Dead • Your Faces of the First World War • REMEMBER THEM « less

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