Name
Alfred Thorn
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/07/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2580
London Regiment *1
2nd (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. SOUPLET BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot III, Row AA, Grave 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Derby Road Baptist Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Frederick Arthur and Lydia (nee KENT) THORN of Watford.
His parents married 1886 in the Berkhamsted, Herts, district. Frederick died 28 April 1936 in Watford aged 70, and was buried 1 May in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Lydia died 1949 in Watford aged 93, and was buried 26 January, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Alfred was born 28 January 1896 in Watford, and attended Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 9 January 1906 to 30 August 1910. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, a builder’s merchant’s clerk aged 15, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and five siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915, and died a Prisoner of War of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Alfred’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing. There is a Death announcement for Alfred in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 16 September 1916; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 21 July 1917 and 19 July 1919.
*1 Probably more correctly London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
