Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert William Lincoln THORPE was born April 1889 in Port Lincoln, South Australia. His parents’ names were John Howard Thorpe and Julia Halls. Thorpe was of above average height at 5 feet 8 3/4 inches tall and he weighed 144 lbs. He had Hazel eyes and brown hair. The school that Thorpe went to was Port Lincoln Public School. Thorpe’s religion was the Church of England and his wife’s name was Mrs Sophy Elizabeth Thorpe. Their wedding was on the 17th of February 1915.

He had 8 siblings whose names were John Howard Thorpe, Henry Isaac Benjamin Thorpe, Mary Tryphena Lane Halls Thorpe, Julia Victoria Emily Eliza Dora Thorpe, Leslie George Thorpe, Esther Lena Rose Thorpe, Louis Edward Frank Thorpe. John Howard Thorpe and Henry Isaac Benjamin Thorpe both served in the war. John Howard Thorpe enlisted on November 29th, 1915.  Henry Issac Benjamin Thorpe enlisted on the 15th of February 1916.

Before enlisting in the war Thorpe worked as a labourer throughout the Port Lincoln area. Thorpe was 27 years old when he enlisted, the date was June 1916, and he joined the 10th battalion first and later the 27th Infantry Battalion with the rank of Private. The 10th Battalion played an important role in creating and protecting the ANZAC and Gallipoli front lines. His World War 1 service history was as follows: 28 Aug 1916 - Involvement Private, SN 6334, 10th Infantry Battalion, 28 Aug 1916 - Embarked Private, SN 6334, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Adelaide, 11 Nov 1918 - Involvement Private, SN 6334, 27th Infantry Battalion, Date unknown - Wounded SN 6334, 27th Infantry Battalion

Sometime between 1917 and 1918 Thorpe was injured during battle, Sophie Elizabeth Thorpe, and Lucy May Retallick both enquired about his injury. He was subsequently sent to, Voluntary Aid, Detachment Hospital, Exeter, Devon, Command Depot, Weymouth, Dorset, Bath War Hospital, Somerset, Dartford Military Hospital, Kent, Quex Park, Birchington, Kent.

On the battle front in Warlencourt, France. Thorpe also witnessed an injury to John Frederick William Muller.

Thorpe was awarded with a British war medal because he served in the war for Britain. He was also awarded a victory medal which was awarded to soldiers who won the war and who survived the war, but he wasn’t awarded the 1914 and 1915 medal because he didn’t contribute to the war at that time.

Thorpe was on an Honour board with lots of different men who answered the call from Port Lincoln and District. This was located at Tasman Terrace, Port Lincoln, South Australia, Australia.

He had 7 children; their names were Maxwell Arthur Thorpe, Olive Margaret Thorpe, Kevin Richard Thorpe, Jean Thorpe, Mabel Thorpe, Mary Thorpe, Noel Thorpe.