Personal Details

Born: 1899 in Whitchurch, Shropshire.

Family: He was the elder of two children born to William Thornton, a general labourer, and his wife Martha. No marriage can be found for him.

Residence: In 1901 his family were living at 10 West End, Whitchurch, Shropshire. By 1911 they had moved to 54 Oddfellows Cottages, Whitchurch. The address on his military documents and on the 1919 Absent Voters’ List was 54 Smallbrook Road, Whitchurch (54 Oddfellows Cottages and 54 Smallbrook Road are the same address).

Employment: The occupation given for him on his Attestation was a gardener.

Died: Not known

Military Details

Regiment: King’s Royal Rifle Corps.

Rank: Rifleman

Service Number: C1362

Date of Enlistment: 12 August 1915

Date of Discharge: 12 July 1916

Reason for Discharge: Being under seventeen years of age.

Other Information: The 1919 Absent Voters’ List indicates William’s service number and regiment as 38106, King`s Own Royal Lancaster; no links to this can be found.