Pte
Arthur Thorpe
Information about birth
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Place of birth: Stanningley, Pudsey, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 33131 |
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Enlistment place: Bradford, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — York and Lancaster Regiment, 1st/4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Waterfields, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXXIV Row: H Grave: 16 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Arthur Thorpe was the son of Hannah Thorpe. He was born in Stanningley, Yorkshire. He enlisted in the British Army and served in the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment (148th Brigade, 49th (West Riding) Regiment).
Arthur was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelkapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the 49th (West Riding) Division ran from Kronprinz Farm to near Berlin Wood. The division aimed first to advance to the line from Wolf Farm to Lamkeek, and then to push on to a line from Woodland Plantation to Duck Lodge. The 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment also took part in this attack.
At around 4:00 a.m., the battalion had reached its assembly positions. Due to the heavy rainfall prior to 9 October, the terrain had become a sea of mud. The first obstacle the battalion encountered was the Ravenbeek, which had become deep and wide due to the heavy rain. Only a group of about 50 men of C Company succeeded in crossing the stream. The troops of B Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from Waterfields and Laamkeek and were held up. On the left, the fire was less intense, and troops of A and B Companies managed to cross the Ravebeek near the Graventafel Road. Troops of A Company succeeded in reaching Marsh Bottoms and dug in there. D Company attempted to pass them but did not succeed.
During the Battle of Poelkapelle, the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment suffered nearly 300 casualties. Arthur too was killed. After the war, his body was found near Waterfields. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Arthur was killed on 9 October 1917 during the Battle of Poelkapelle, part of the Battle of Passchendaele. The starting lines of the 49th (West Riding) Division ran from Kronprinz Farm to near Berlin Wood. The division aimed first to advance to the line from Wolf Farm to Lamkeek, and then to push on to a line from Woodland Plantation to Duck Lodge. The 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment also took part in this attack.
At around 4:00 a.m., the battalion had reached its assembly positions. Due to the heavy rainfall prior to 9 October, the terrain had become a sea of mud. The first obstacle the battalion encountered was the Ravenbeek, which had become deep and wide due to the heavy rain. Only a group of about 50 men of C Company succeeded in crossing the stream. The troops of B Company came under heavy machine-gun fire from Waterfields and Laamkeek and were held up. On the left, the fire was less intense, and troops of A and B Companies managed to cross the Ravebeek near the Graventafel Road. Troops of A Company succeeded in reaching Marsh Bottoms and dug in there. D Company attempted to pass them but did not succeed.
During the Battle of Poelkapelle, the 1/4th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment suffered nearly 300 casualties. Arthur too was killed. After the war, his body was found near Waterfields. He was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he still rests today.
Sources 4
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1/4 Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2805/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 2018), 118-123. Sources used |
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Percy, Douglas, The 1/4th (Hallamshire) Battn., York and Lancaster Regiment, 1914-1919 (London 1926), 79-87. Sources used |
More information 3
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464913 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=2317c86a-7909-455a-8763-39c1fe41cd6c |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4438037 |