Name
Frank Thorpe
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/2017
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
303619
London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)
1st/5th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial
Pre War
Frank Thorpe was born in 1880 in Spalding, Lincolnshire to Francis William Thorpe, shoemaker, and Alice Ann (nee Dixon).
On the 1881 Census Frank was living with his parents at 27, Church Lane, Spalding.
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Frank, Frederick (boen 1882), Harry (born 1885) and Fanny (born 1888) were living at 5, Francis Street, Spalding.
On the 1901 Census Frank was a hairdresser assistant, together with Walter Reynard (born 1878) living at 156,Fonthill Road,, Islington with Charles Bailey (hairdresser) and his wife Elizabeth.
Frank married Blanche Lawrence on 8 Feb 1906 at Emmanuel Church, Paddington, London, They were living at 107, Walton Road.
On the 1911 Census Frank, Blanche and daughter Hilda Dorothy (born 15 Sep 1906) were living at 155, Bravington Road, Paddington.
There would be a second daughter Irene Blanche Frances (born 3 May 1917, baptised 24 Jun 1917).
The family later lived at 195, Glebe Rd., Letchworth, Herts.
Wartime Service
Frank was enlisted in 1st/5th Battalion (London Rifle Brigade), City of London Regiment as a Territorial Soldier Rifleman 5643 in Aug/Sep 1916.
The battalion had been in France since 5 Nov 1917 and by 10 Feb 1916 was part of 56th (1st London) Division formed of Territorial Units. Frank was gained his number as 303619 in the Territorial Force renumbering Scheme. Frank joined his Battalion in the Division possibly in 1917 to take part in the Battles of Arras at 1st Battle of Scarpe (9-14 Apr) and 3rd Scarpe (3-4 May). In this last action Frank was reported Killed in Action on 3 May 1917, his remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 5s 2d was paid to his widow who also received a pension of 30s per week for herself and children.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
