Gunner John William Thornton, of Royal Garrison Artillery, whose home is at Mount Pleasant, Ley Fleaks Road, Idle, has died as the result of wounds received in action. On Monday morning his wife received a communication to the effect that he had been badly wounded whilst the following day the sad intelligence arrived that he had passed away and had been buried in a cemetery at Ypres. Gunner Thornton, who was 38 years of age, is survived by a wife and two children He donned khaki early in April and came home on his last leave a little over a month ago. While at Idle he was in good spirits. He told the writer that he liked the life immensely and added that he never enjoyed better health.

When he was mortally wounded he had been at the front for three weeks. Never was there a more enthusiastic vocalist and in that capacity he was ever ready gratuitously to lend a helping hand in a good cause. As a tenor he was a valuable member of the Idle and Greengates Musical Unions and he also sang in the choirs at the Greengates Church and St John’s Idle. At the latter place he was choirmaster at the time he joined the forces, having succeeded his brother, Mr Joe Thornton, another local vocalist of repute, who had previously joined up. Gunner Thornton was a mason by trade and is the brother of Mr Harry Thornton of Bradford Road. Shipley Times & Express 24 August 1917