Rupert Melbourne THORNTON

THORNTON, Rupert Melbourne

Service Number: 1602
Enlisted: 1 February 1901
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles
Born: Moama, New South Wales, 3 June 1877
Home Town: Kilmore, Mitchell, Victoria
Schooling: Not known
Occupation: Farmer & Shoeing Smith
Died: Killed in Action, Wilmansrust, Wilmansrust, Mpumalanga, South Africa, 12 June 1901, aged 24 years
Cemetery: Not yet discovered
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Boer War Memorial (Queen Victoria Square), Kyneton & District Boer War Honour Roll, Trentham War Memorial
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Boer War Service

1 Oct 1899: Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 1602
1 Oct 1899: Involvement Private, 1602, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles
1 Feb 1901: Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 1602, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles
15 Feb 1901: Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 1602, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles, Ship Orient
12 Jun 1901: Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Sergeant, 1602, 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles

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Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen

Rupert Melbourne THORNTON was born on 3rd June, 1877 at Moama, New South Wales

His parents were Thomas Herbert THORNTON & Joeina Blanche BICKLEY who married in Victoria in 1872 - His Mother was from Liverpool in England & his father Thomas was born in Tasmania

He embarked with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles on 15th February, 1901 on the ship Orient

Rupert was Killed in Action at Wilmansrust on 12th June, 1901 - all the soldiers who died were buried together in a communal grave where they fell

He was awarded the South Africa Medal with clasps

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