| Signed "H. G. Thornton. Feb 1901" the identity of this soldier was confirmed in a somewhat unexpected way when I simply Googled the address - 58 The Ropewalk - that was written on the back of the card (see below). That address in Nottingham was the home to Henry Edward Thornton, a banker, and his family. The H. G. Thornton pictured above was his eldest son Henry Grenfell Thornton who was born in Nottingham on 9 February, 1873. Henry's mother was Katherine Charlotte Grenfell the sister of Field-Marshal Francis Wallace Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell. He had at least three younger brothers - Pascoe Spencer Thornton, Claude Cyprian Thornton, Godfrey St. Leger Thornton. One biographical sketch of his father Henry Edward Thornton mentions two sons being killed in World War I and one being the Rector of Wollaton. The later would be the youngest of the above mentioned brothers Claude Cyprian (d. 1939). Pascoe Spencer died in Tientsin, China in 1917. Lieutenant Colonel Godfrey St. Leger Thornton D.S.O. of Royal Field Artillery, died of sickness on 4 February, 1918. Thornton was educated at Rugby and was for a time involved with the Boys Brigade being appointed Lieutenant in the 12th Nottingham Company upon its establishment around 1891-92. Henry Grenfell Thornton was appointed Second Lieutenant in the 1st Nottinghamshire (Robin Hood) Rifle Volunteers on 11 February, 1893. Promoted Lieutenant - 23 June, 1894 Captain - 18 May, 1898 Resigned - 25 January, 1899 The photograph is dated Feb 1901 which is some two years after his resignation from the 1st Nottinghamshires which can have two possible meanings. First that the photo taken prior to his resignation and signed and addressed at a later date or secondly that he was back in uniform in February, 1901 although I have found no reference to this even after an extensive search though several sources including the London Gazette. Interestingly I have come across the mention of a No. 20405, Trooper Henry Grenfell Thornton listed as with the 106th Company (Staffordshire), 4th Battalion of the Imperial yeomanry which deployed to South Africa in 1901. Aside from identical names and an appropriate time frame I have no evidence at this point that the two men are one and the same. Would a man holding the rank of captain in the volunteers resign to serve as a trooper in a unit shipping overseas? I have read of examples of this happening though it was unusual since officers in the volunteers could receive temporary commissions in the regulars sometimes at their current volunteer rank though often at one rank lower - a captain of volunteers being commissioned a lieutenant in the regulars. One would think that having an uncle who was a Field-Marshal, not to mention a name sake would have negated Henry Grenfell Thornton the need to resign a commission let alone serve as a private trooper in the Yeomanry. It should be noted that in the above photograph no rank insignia is visible on Thornton's uniform. In fact the only insignia to be seen at all in a very small badge on his side cap which could be the Imperial Yeomanry's Prince of Wales plume emblem. It is my feeling that No. 20405 Trooper Henry Grenfell Thornton is one and the same with the man in the above photograph. Trooper Thornton qualified for the Queen's South Africa Medal with the clasps: "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Transvaal", "South Africa 1901" and "South Africa 1902" I recently received information form Liz Thornton the great niece of Henry Grenfell Thornton confirming that No. 20405 Trooper Henry Grenfell Thornton is indeed the nephew of the Field Marshal. She mentions that according to family history Thornton may not have been a very efficient officer in the yeomanry the fact of which prevented him from receiving a commission or appointment as an officer with the troops deploying to South Africa. Another family tradition tells that Field Marshal Grenfell thought very highly of his nephew and felt that he should have received a commission had he applied for one. So even as one question is answered others still remain. Henry Grenfell Thornton died on 5 March, 1934 at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, Bermuda leaving an estate worth some £37103 17s. 8d. No mention of a wife or children was made in the probate records. Cabinet Photograph George Pendry - Photographer 38 Long Row, Nottingham, England 1901 |
