Born: 1891, Bradford
Died: 8 May 1918
Buried:
Address: 22 Harrogate Road, Eccleshill
Parents: Isaac and Mary, nee Inman
Spouse: Clara Annie, nee Phillips
Siblings: Elizabeth, Sarah, Ethel
Occupation: Joiner
Organisations/clubs: Undercliffe Wesleyans Sunday School
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park and St Luke’s; Tyne Cot Memorial
Children:
Regiment: Yorkshire Hussars
Walter Thornton
Walter Thornton was
born in 1891 in Bradford
the son of Isaac and
Mary, nee Inman.
In 1891 the family were
living in Mint Street,
Undercliffe. Two
children had been born,
Elizabeth and Walter. By
1901 two more children
had been born, Sarah and
Ethel.
In 1911 Walter, at 20 years of age.
was working as a joiner. He was
an active worker at Undercliffe
Wesleyan Sunday School.
He enlisted in February 1915 as
Private 24781 in the 2nd Battalion
of the Yorkshire Hussars
(Alexandra, Princess of Wales
Own).
The Hussars were
already fighting on the
Western Front and
after training he
joined his battalion on
the 1st July 1916.
Before leaving for the
Western Front he
married Clara Annie
Phillips who had been
born in Canada in
1891. Her parents had emigrated to
Canada after their marriage and
then returned home in the 1890s.
He gave his address as 22
Harrogate Road.
Walter’s battalion was active in the
first battle of the Somme which
began on the 1st July 1916 and
lasted until the 13th.
In October 1916 it was reported he
had been wounded in the right leg
and admitted to the Lord Derby
hospital in Warrington.
At the beginning of January 1918
he was treated for trench foot by
the 98th Field Ambulance being
transferred from the sick convey on
the 1st January and
returned to duty on the
18th.
Walter was killed in action
on the 8th of May 1918
although there was not a
major engagement taking
place so it is possible that
he was killed by shell fire
as he has no known grave.
He was 27 years of age.
He is remembered on the
Tyne Cot Memorial and on the
family grave in Nab Wood
Cemetery
He left his effects to his widow
Clara who received £7.8.4d on the
7th August 1918 and a War
Gratuity of £9.10.0d on the 26th
November 1919.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
