THORN, Reginald Samuel
| Service Numbers: | 3621, 3621B |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 August 1915, Acting Corporal on enlistment |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cavenagh, South Australia, 24 August 1888 |
| Home Town: | Broken Hill, Broken Hill Municipality, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | South Broken Hill Public School, NSW |
| Occupation: | School Teacher in Broken Hill, NSW |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Pozieres, France, 24 July 1916, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Part VI, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Broken Hill Barrier District Roll of Honour, Broken Hill Old Burke Ward Boys Roll of Honor, Broken Hill War Memorial, Parramatta NSW Public School Teachers KIA Honour Roll, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 3621, Acting Corporal on enlistment | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 1916: | Involvement 3621, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Jan 1916: | Embarked 3621, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 28 Feb 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3621B, 10th Infantry Battalion, reverted to rank of Private on joining 10th Battalion | |
| 24 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 3621B, 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3621B awm_unit: 10 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-24 |
Help us honour Reginald Samuel Thorn's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Julianne Ryan
Born 24 August 1888, in Cavanagh (district of Peterborough), South Australia
(SA Birth 1842 - 1906 Book: 424 Page: 182 District: Fro.)
Father John Samuel Thorn (b. __ - d. 1930)
Mother Mary Ann Thorn (nee Bishop) - (b. __ - d. 1922)
(both buried at Broken Hill Cemetery, Plot: METH M4, Row L, Grave 21)
Reginald lived with his parents and siblings on enlisting,
at Blende Street North, Broken Hill, NSW
Sister: Elsie Thorn
Next of kin in service (brother)
2238 Private Arthur Thorn - 10th Infantry Battalion - b. 21/06/1886
he had lived at Port Pirie, SA
he was 29 years of age, a metallurgical chemist prior to enlisting
02/06/1915 enlisted
21/09/1915 embarked Outer Harbour onboard HMAT Star of England
as a Private with 4th Reinforcements, 27th Battalion
05/11/1916 killed in action at Fleurs, France - NO known grave
His name is commemorated on:-
- the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
- Panel 111 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
Reginald was a School teacher in Broken Hill, NSW before enlisting.
Described on enlisting as 27 years of age; 5' 10" tall; 134 lbs;
dark complexion; brown eyes; dark hair; Congregational
31/08/1915 enlisted in Adelaide, SA
31/08/1915 appointed to A Comapny, 2nd Depot Battalion, Exhibition Camp
12/01/1916 embarked Outer Harbour, SA onboard HMAT A30 Borda
as an Acting Corporal with 27th Infantry Battalion, 8th reinforcements
27/02/1916 allotted to and proceeded to join 10th Battalion, ex 7th Training Battalion,
Zeitoun
28/02/1916 reverted to the rank of Private on joining the 10th Battalion, C Company
from 27th Battalion, at Serapeum
27/03/1916 proceeded to join British Expeditionary Forces, ex Alexandria
with his brother Private Arthur Thorn
03/04/1916 disembarked into Marseilles, France
He became a signaller because of a "deep repugnance to even the thought of taking a life".
23/07/1916 Reginald wrote a letter to his mother on this day
(found the next day in his pocket):
'My darling Mother and all at home,
We are on the eve of a very great battle, and no man of us knows whether
or not he may be in this world this time tomorrow. This may, therefore, be
my last farewell here, but I know that God will support you, whatever befalls.
We have no fear, and we should all be thankful to possess the assurance that
our partings here are only temporary, and that we shall at last meet in a better
and happier world. Should any of your own fall, do not grieve for us, but be
thankful that our rest is come, as will that for us all, sooner or later, and when
we meet again our present trials will seem quite insignificant compared with the
future joy. Remember, darling mother, that our end will most likely be unconscious,
and hence painless. Should we fall, and, although we have seen the awfulness of
the worst part of the battlefield, we go without fear, commending our loved ones
at home, who are perhaps called upon to make the great sacrifice of loved ones
to God's merciful care. Remember His sacrifice for us.
- Ever your loving son, Reginald Samuel Thorn.'
24/07/1916 Reginald was killed in action this very next day
during the First Battle of Pozieres, Somme, France (27 years young)
He had no known grave - after all the continued battles.
His name is commemorated at:-
- the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
- on Panel 60 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT
Medals: British War medal (31748), Victory medal (31525)
Memorial Plaque and Scroll (306104)
Submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 30/01/2017. Lest we forget.
Click images to start slideshow.