The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private J R Thorpe

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Private John Richard THORPE, L/6308, 1st Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 27th October 1914.

Born Greenwich, Kent, son of James & Frances Thorpe of Deptford, SE.

Previously served 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve), Royal West Kent Regiment.

Enlisted London, age 19 years & 11 months, height 5ft 8½ inches, weight 118lbs, fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, spherical scars left thumb & knee, slight contraction 4th toe right foot. Resided 220 Church Street, Deptford, Kent. Formerly labourer.

Home 7th October 1901 to 8th March 1902; Malta 9th March 1902 to 12th December 1902; Home 13th December 1902 to 5th April 1904; Malta, 6th April 1904 to 11th April 1905; 12th April 1905 to ?????; ??????? to  29th August 1914; BEF 30th August 1914 to 27th October 1914.

7th October 1901, enlisted & posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 28th October 1901, overstaying his pass from 2.00am till 12.00 midnight, admonished, forfeits 1 days pay; 22nd November 1901, posted Provisional Battalion; 28th February 1902, posted 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 31st December 1902, Shorncliffe, absent from Tattoo until Reveille, 8 days confined to Barracks, forfeits 3 days pay; 11th April 1903, Shorncliffe, absent from Parading for ????? at 7.20pm; 2nd June 1903, absent from Reveille till found in bed at Reveille 3rd June 1903, absent from Parade at 7.15am whilst a Prisoner at large till 1.00pm, 168 hours Imprisonment with hard labour; 22nd August 1903, Blackdown, overstaying his pass, 3 days confined to Barracks; 2nd August 1904, Malta, 7 days confined to Barracks; 13th April 1905 to Army Reserve; 12th April 1906, Section "B" Army Reserve;

1911 Census - 220 Church Street, Deptford, SE - James Thorpe, head, age 62, married, coal porter, coal ????, worker, born Deptford, Kent; Frances Thorpe, wife, age 60, married 39 years, 8 children, 7 still alive, born Sheerness, Kent; James Thorpe, son, age 35, single, general labourer, Dock, worker, born Deptford, Kent; Albert Thorpe, son, age 33, single, general labourer, Dock, worker, born Deptford, Kent; John Richard Thorpe, son, age 27, single, general labourer, Dock, worker, born Deptford, Kent;

William Hutchinson, son in law, age 30, married, coal porter, worker, born Greenwich, Kent; Ada Hutchinson, daughter, age 31, married 10 years, 4 children, 3 still alive; Ada Hutchinson, gran daughter, age 9, school, born Greenwich, Kent; William E Hutchinson, gran son, age 5, school, born Deptford, Kent; Alfred Hutchinson, age 2, born Deptford, Kent.

8th October 1913, re-engaged; 5th August 1914, mobilized; 6th August 1914, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 30th August 1914, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment.

28th May 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, none; Children, none; Father, James Thorpe, 220 Church Street, Deptford, SE; Mother, Frances Thorpe, 220 Church Street, Deptford, SE; Brothers - James William Thorpe, age 44, 220 Church Street, Deptford, SE; Albert Thorpe, sage 42, 220 Church Street, Deptford, SE; Edward Thorpe, age 30, 49 Prince Street, Deptford, SE; Alfred Thorpe, age 28, 220 Church Street, Deptford, SE; Sisters - Frances Margaret, 220 Church Street, Deptford, SE; Ada, 35? Stowage, Deptford, SE.

Commemorated at Le Touret Memorial, Panel 30 and 31, Pas de Calais, France.