Biography of Private William Jonas Albert Thornley (9511)
1st Battalion The King’s (Liverpool Regiment)
Died 2nd August 1916

Soldier

  • Name: William Jonas Albert Thornley
  • Date of birth: 1890
  • Place of Birth: Billingborough, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: October – December 1890
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

Father

  • Name: William Henry Thornley
  • DOB: 1868
  • Place of Birth: Horbling, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Agriculturial labourer

Mother

  • Name: Sarah Emma Holland
  • DOB: 1852
  • Place Of Birth: Pointon, Lincolnshire, England
  • Marriage: 1890 Bourne District

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • Gertrude Frances Alvina Holland 1883, Pointon (Half sister)
  • William Jonas Albert Thornley, 1890, Billingborough
  • Annie Thornley, 1891, Billingborough
  • Frank Owen Thornley, 1893, Horbling
  • May Thornley, 1895, Horbling
  • Joe Thornley, 1898, Billingborough

Census

  • 1891: William is living with his parents in Chapel Street, Billingborough, Lincolnshire.
  • 1901: William is living with his parents in Williamson Street, Lincoln, Lincolnshire.
  • 1911: William has not been found. I would say he may be aboard as he signed up in 1906.

Relatives in services

  • None found

Marriage

  • No marriage for William has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

  • Birmingham Daily Post Tuesday 19th January 1915
    WOUNDED
    THORNLEY, 9511, Pte. W., King’s (Liverpool Regt.)

 

  • Sheffield Daily Telegraph Tuesday 19th January 1915
    WOUNDED
    Thornley (9511), Pte. W., Liverpool Regt.

 

  • The Times Tuesday January 19th 1915
    WOUNDED
    Thornley, 9511 W., Lpool. R.

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • Available (1906)

Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Private William Jonas Albert Thornley, 9511, 1st Bn The King’s (Liverpool) Regiment was killed in action on 2nd August 1916 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • None found

Effects Left To

  • Sister Framces G A Gibbons

Medals

  • The British Medal
    The Victory Medal
    The 14 Star with clasp 2/2643

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Dowsby, Roll of Honour in St Andrew’s Church

 

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
  • In memory of Private William J. A. Thornley, 9511, 1st Bn., The King’s (Liverpool Regiment) who died on 2 August 1916
  • Remembered with honour, Thiepval Memorial

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • British Newspaper Archive.