John Thornborrow, Age 20

Private, 26406, 2/7th Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment).

West Riding Regiment Cap Badge.

Little is known about John except for the fact that he was the son of Jane and the late Thomas Steele Thornborrow of 19 Woodhouse Lane, Horsehay.

John had more than likely been conscripted into the army as this would explain him serving with the West Riding regiment as he would have been drafted to whatever regiment required men.

He must have been wounded in action because when he died on July 7th 1918 he was buried at Les Baraques Military cemetery at Sangatte which is quite close to Calais pointing to the fact that he must have got as far as a base hospital before succumbing to his wounds.

Extra info: John was born on the 18th Sep 1897 and Christened on the 21st Nov 1897 at Ashton on Ribble, Lancashire, England, his mother was Jane (maidan name Hall) a Dawley girl and probably entered services and worked as a domestic servant at Preston, Lancashire, and met Thomas? On the 11th Jan 1896 she married Thomas Steel Thornborrow at Preston, Lancashire, Thomas died in March 1899, so Jane would have returned to Dawley, John in 1901 was living with his aunt Margaret (Jane’s sister who had married Charles Dickenson) and were living at Pool Hill, Dawley, in the 1911 census John is still living with his aunt Margaret at 12 Pool Hill, Dawley, his mother is working as a Parlourmaid for William G Slaney a Wine Merchant at 20 Parville House, Vineyard Rd, Wellington, Salop.

John died as a result of a railway accident, he was part of a draft of 113 other ranks proceeding to join unit ex “F” Depot on 7/7/1918, He was found on the main line about 300 yards north of Caffiers station, on the 7th July, having fallen off a train. He was suffering from a fractured skull, and had one hand cut off at the wrist. He was taken direct to 30th general Hospital, Calais by ambulance on the 7th July, were he died on the same day from his injures.

John's Head Stone at Les Baraques Military cemetery, grave IV. C. 12.

Inscription added to head stone by: Mrs. J. Thornborrow, 19, Woodhouse Lane, Horsehay, Shropshire.

Deeply Mourned And Sadly Missed By His Mother And Sister Nell

WWI Medal Rolls Index Card

Commonwealth War Graves
Buried Les Baraques Military cemetery

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Victory Medal	British War Medal