In Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium is the Commonwealth War Grave of 2nd Lieutenant Thomas Tudor Thorp, serving with the ‘D’ Battery, 83rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, who died 16/08/1917.

The son of Thomas Alder Thorp and Elizabeth Jane Thorp, of Bondgate Hall, Alnwick, Northumberland

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 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.

Source: 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.

David Thompson has submitted the following:-

Thomas Tudor Thorp was born on 5 June, 1897, at Alnwick, Northumberland, the eldest son of Thomas Alder Thorp, of Bondgate Hall, Alnwick, and his wife, Elizabeth Jane, daughter of Captain Allen Peat.

Educated at Aysgarth School and Charterhouse.

Cousin of  Robert Oakley Vavasour Thorp, died 22 March 1918.

Gazetted 2nd Lieutenant RFA 16 June 1916.  Served with the BEF in France and Flanders from the following month, taking part in the later Battles of the Somme in September and November 1916.

Thorp was killed in action near Glencorse Wood, on the Ypres-Menin Road, 16 August 1917.

His Commanding Officer wrote:
He was a most valuable officer, and one of the most fearless that 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.

Acknowledgments: Tony Harding

Thomas Tudor 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.