THORNTON, Walter Joseph
| Service Number: | 817 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 March 1917, nlisted at 1st Battalion Depot Claremont. Assigned to 6th Training Division. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Wedge Bay, Tasmania, Australia, 10 August 1892 |
| Home Town: | Nubeena, Tasman, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Nubeena, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | West Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 5 June 1962, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania Church Of England, Cg, Number 152 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Mar 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 817, 6th Training Battalion, nlisted at 1st Battalion Depot Claremont. Assigned to 6th Training Division. | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 1917: | Involvement Private, 817, 4th Machine Gun Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '21' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: SS Indarra embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 26 Nov 1917: | Embarked Private, 817, 4th Machine Gun Company, SS Indarra, Melbourne | |
| 1 Jun 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 817, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory, Jun 1918 • Bussy-les-Daours, Somme, France 4 Jul 1918 • Vaire Wood, Somme, France 2 Aug 1918 • Cachy, Somme, France 7 Aug 1918 • Longueau, Somme, France 7 Sep 1918 • Barleux, Somme, France | |
| 24 Jun 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 817, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, On 24 June, Divisional HQ with the artillery, Field Ambulances and Machine Gun Battalion entrained for Hesdin. | |
| 2 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, 817, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, The Battle of Amiens, 2 Aug 1918 • Cachy, Somme, France 4th Machine Gun Battalion defending a village, Cachy. 7 Aug 1918 • Longueau, Somme, France | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 817, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, Walter’s battalion were used to push westward in a line from Longeau up to Saint Quentin. German morale was low, and thousands of German soldiers were captured and sent back behind lines. | |
| 16 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 817, 4th Machine Gun Battalion, Discharged from 6th Military District Barracks in Anglesea, Tasmania. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Rodney Hardy
Walter Joseph Thornton was also born in Nubeena, Tasmania and lived and worked on his father’s dairy farm. When he was 25, he served in World War I in the 4th Machine Gun Battalion for 2 years and 101 days, serving until war end.
A story has been passed down from his children that since it was a two-man operation using the heavy machine guns, there was incident during fighting where Walter was in a dugout and his gunner-mate was going to pass the gun up to him, but his mate decided to get out instead. Unfortunately, as he did so, he was shot and killed. (Unidentified so far)
He was officially discharged from the Anglesea Barracks in Hobart on the 16th June, no doubt happy seeing his family and friends again on the Tasman Peninsula. In the Hobart ‘World’ newspaper there was an article about his homecoming.
“On June 2 a most enjoyable evening was spent at Nubeena in welcoming back from the seat of war Private Walter J. Thornton, eldest son of Mr Joseph Thornton, of Tunnel Bay. There were about 150 persons present. Mr Thomas Price, in a neat speech, on behalf of those present, welcomed Private Thornton back to his native place. Dancing, singing and games were indulged in until about midnight, everyone leaving quite pleased.” (World - Hobart, Tas Fri 6th June 1919.)
After the war, Walter applied for a free land grant; near his father’s land, 99 acres at Pootark (Stormlea). (Lot No. 99.3.26) The land was previously owned by George Greatbatch, and the government was helping returned servicemen to resettle. The scheme was deemed a failure by many, but for Walter he was an experienced farmer so he benefited greatly.
He married Nellie May Cox on 17th Oct 1932 at the age of 40! My mother Margaret(dec.) was born 15th April 1933. Kathleen Mona(dec.) was born on 12th Sept 1934. Neil Joseph (dec.) was born 11 Sep 1938.
Walter died in 1962 at the age of 69, due to the damage caused to his lungs during the trench warfare. I was only 3 at the time so I have no recollections of him, but I was privileged to wear his medals at the War Memorial service in Canberra. It was profound and emotional experience for me to remember him in such a hallowed setting.
Grandson Rodney Hardy. 2025
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