Pte 30276 Reginald Thomas Thorp

Reginald Thomas Thorp was born in Bromley, Leeds in 1893, the son of Joseph Thorp and his wife Maria Ingram (née Houseman), both were born in Leeds and married in the city in 1881. Reginald was the youngest of four children:  his siblings were Alice Maria born in 1887,  Mabel Hannah 1890 (died in infancy), and Joseph Houseman 1888.

Reginald was baptised on 4th June in Holy Trinity Church, Armley Hall, Leeds, his parents’ residence 26 Oak Road, and his father’s occupation marine engineer.

By 1901 the family have moved to Liverpool and are living at 35 Tennyson Street, Toxteth Park. His father, Joseph, is a 46 year old mechanical engineer, his mother, Maria, is also 46 years of age. They have three children in the household, all born in Leeds;  Alice M. is 13, Joseph H. is 12 and Reginald T. is 7.

In 1911 they are at 62 Blythswood Street, Aigburth Road, Liverpool. His father is a 56 year old electrical engineer for Liverpool Corporation, his mother is also 56 years of age. They state that they have been married for 29 years and have had four children, three of whom have survived;  Alice is 23, an elementary school teacher with Cheshire Council, Joseph, 22, is an elementary school teacher with Wallasey Council.  Reginald is 17, a clerk with a wholesale chemist.

He enlisted in Liverpool as Private 22859 20th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He arrived in France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915.

At some point he was transferred to the 8th Bn Border Regiment with regimental number 30276.

The 8th Battalion of the Border Regiment suffered heavy casualties on the first day of the Battle of the Somme at Thiepval, in August they were in front line trenches in the Leipzig Salient, then for a short time at Orvillers before moving to Pozières.

It is not known when Reginald was wounded but he died of wounds at Rouen on 11th October 1916. He was 23 years old.

He now rests at St Sever Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph: 

"IN LOVING MEMORY, FATHER AND MOTHER".

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross, one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.The adjoining cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

Reginald earned his three medals. 

His parents, living at 62 Blythswood Street, received his effects of £5-14-6d, a War Gratuity of £9 and a pension of 3/- a week, later increased to 5/-. His parents later moved to 30 Princess Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

His brother Joseph served in the R.A.M.C., attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, served in France from November 1915, and was discharged in February 1919.

His father died in 1923 and his mother in 1932.

Reginald is commemorated on his parents’ headstone in Overpool Cemetery, Ellesmere Port: 

          “Also Reginald Thomas,
               son of the above
  20th Batt. 20th King’s Liverpool Regt
                      (Pals)
 Died of wounds at Rouen Oct 11 1916
               Aged 23 years”

Reginald is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 38 Right as 20th Battalion 

St. Michael in the Hamlet Church plaque.