Pte
Robert Cecil Thurston
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 06/02/1896 |
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Place of birth: Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Thornaby-on-Tees, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Errand boy |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 66494 |
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Enlistment place: Aldershot, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Fusiliers (City of London) Regiment, 20th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 28/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Tiber, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XVIII Row: A Grave: 2 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Robert Cecil Thurston was the son of Elizabeth and William Thurston. He was born on 6 February in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire. Before the war he worked as an errand boy. Robert enlisted in Aldershot, Hampshire and was part of the 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (19th Brigade, 33rd Division).
Robert was killed in action on 28 November 1917 in the aftermath of the Battle of Passchendaele. On 27 and 28 November, Robert’s unit relieved the 1/5th Scottish Rifles in the front area south of Passchendaele. On 28 November, a heavy German barrage killed 51 men of the 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Robert died at the age of 23. His body was found after the war near Tiber, Passchendaele. Robert was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Robert was killed in action on 28 November 1917 in the aftermath of the Battle of Passchendaele. On 27 and 28 November, Robert’s unit relieved the 1/5th Scottish Rifles in the front area south of Passchendaele. On 28 November, a heavy German barrage killed 51 men of the 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
Robert died at the age of 23. His body was found after the war near Tiber, Passchendaele. Robert was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, where he found his final resting place.
Sources 5
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19 Brigade: Headquarters (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/2421/2). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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20 Battalion Royal Fusiliers (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 95/2423/3). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG13). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464919 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=7a6768b2-2802-4646-92a3-eddf970e1543 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/4443200 |