De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 3 page 267
Photo : Allen Hindmarch with thanks
Newcastle Journal Friday 24/08/1917
Bondgate Hall. Alnwick
Medal Index Card
Thomas Tudor Thorp was born at 'Westview', Alnwick, on the 5th June 1897, the eldest son of Thomas Alder Thorp, [born Cramlington, March 1866 died 29th January 1945], of Bondgate Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland, a Solicitor, [Dickson, Archer and Thorp and Co, based at Narrowgate House] and his wife Elizabeth Jane, [born South Shields, 1861 died 31st March 1950], daughter of Captain Allen Peat. His younger brother Robert Allen Fenwick Thorp was born on the 12th February 1900, and his sister Elizabeth Jane Thorp who was born 1896, but died December 1971.
In 1901 the family were residing at 'Westview' with 3 servants.
Thomas was educated at the Aysgarth school in Bedale, and Charterhouse School.
He joined the Royal Horse Artillery as a private, then he was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant on the 16th June 1916 in 'D' Battery, 83rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery. He served in France and Flanders from the 22nd July 1916.
He took part in the September and November later battles of the Somme. He was killed near Glencorse Wood on the Ypres-Menin road in action on the 16th August 1917.
He was unmarried.
His Commanding Officer later wrote:- He was a most valuable officer, and one of the most fearless I have ever known. During the last months, on several occasions, he had shown remarkable coolness and bravery under fire, and his conduct was an example to his section. When killed he was acting as Forward Observation Officer, and had sent down some most valuable information during the morning, which enabled us to disperse an enemy counter-attack.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
On the 23rd March 1918, his Will was issued, he left effects of £317 13s 11d to Thomas Alder Thorp.
Acknowledgments: Tony Harding
Thomas Thorp is remembered at Alnwick on A11.01, A11.03 in A11.09 page 23, on A11.10, A11.21 and in A11.56 page 37
Glencorse Wood today
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Thorp
