Main CPGW Record
Surname: THORNTON
Forename(s): Joseph Henry Banks
Place of Birth: Keswick, Cumberland
Service No: ---
Rank: T/2nd Lieutenant
Regiment / Corps / Service: Lancashire Fusiliers
Battalion / Unit: 23rd (Service) Battalion
Division: 40th Division
Age: 28
Date of Death: 1918-09-28
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: II. E. 3.
CWGC Cemetery: PONT-DE-NIEPPE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON – ERMYSTED’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Joseph Henry Banks Thornton (born 22 October 1889) was the son of Joseph and Jane Thornton, née Banks. Joseph, senior, was born at Appleby, Westmorland and Jane at Armitage, Staffordshire.
1891 Luton, Bedfordshire Census: 14, Stuart Street - Joseph H.B. Thornton, aged 1 year, born Keswick, Cumberland. [Joseph and his mother Jane, a widow, were living with her sister Mary and brother-in-law, Henry Thomas Shackleton.]
1901 Keswick, Cumberland Census: 14, Blencathra Street - Joseph H. Thornton, aged 11 years, born Keswick, son of Jane Thornton, widow.
1911 Keswick, Cumberland Census: 18, Blencathra Street - Joseph Henry Banks Thornton, aged 21 years, born Keswick, son of Jane Thornton, widow.
Joseph was married to Anna K. (Cathleen) Ambrose in 1918. Anna married Alexander Johnston in 1928.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Joseph Henry Banks Thornton, 267913, 2/4th Northumberland Fusiliers & 2/Lieut Labour Corps attached to Lancashire Fusiliers. Commissioned Labour Corps: 23 February 1918. Theatre of War first served in: France. Correspondence: Mrs. J.H.B. Thornton (widow), Redcot, Holly Road, Blackpool, Lancs.
Joseph is commemorated on the Keswick War Memorial.
Photograph courtesy of Wendy Hyett, Builth Wells, Wales.
A short biography of Joseph is included in: ‘A Grammar School at War – The Story of Ermysted’s Grammar School during the Great War’ by Steven Howarth (2007).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
THORNTON, Second Lieutenant J.W.B., formerly a master at Skipton Grammar School, killed in action Sept. 28, 1918.
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T/2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Banks THORNTON
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Lancashire Fusiliers
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 40th Division
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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records
2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Banks Thornton
Courtesy of Ermysted’s Grammar School Archive
2nd Lieutenant Joseph Henry Banks Thornton
Courtesy of Wendy Hyett, Builth Wells, Wales
St John’s Churchyard, Keswick
Family grave - Memorial inscription: ALSO OF THEIR ONLY SON/JOSEPH HENRY BANKS THORNTON/2ND LIEUTENANT 23RD LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS/KILLED IN ACTION SEPT 28TH 1918/BURIED AT PONT DE NIEPPE AGED 28
© Stuart Nicholson (WMR-37685)
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
06 April 1917
STAFF CHANGES AT THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL
In addition to the departure of Mr. Powell, headmaster for the past six years, further staff changes are reported at the Skipton Grammar School. The recent issue of the School Magazine states:–‘Mr. Goffatt has rejoined the Belgian Army, after a stay here of nearly two years. During this time he has made very many friends in the School. His successor is Dr. W.E. Mann, who has the degrees of B.A. (London), M.A. (Victoria) and D. Litt. (Paris). He comes to Skipton from Paris, but previous to residence there he was teaching at Queen’s College, Taunton.
The School has sustained another great loss in the departure of Mr. Thornton, who is now in the Northumberland Fusiliers. Mr. Thornton came to Skipton almost three years ago, and during his stay here has achieved many mighty works. In games he has caused the School to maintain its reputation, no easy task to accomplish in view of the fact that all the old stalwarts have departed; the Choral Society will find it impossible to get anyone to take his place; and the school in general grieves over the parting with one who has always thrown himself heart and soul into every province of activity. It seem particularly hard to lose Mr. Thornton just at the present time, and yet if he could have had his way he would have been serving long ago; we all know the efforts he has made to get into the Army. We wish him a very happy time, and hope that good fortune will follow him wherever he may go. He will not return to us after the war, but he will always hold a warm place in our hearts. Good luck to him.”
18 October 1918
Former Skipton Grammar School Classic Master Killed
We are sorry to learn of the death in action on the Western Front on September 28th of Second Lieutenant J. H. B. Thornton, who, from September 1914 to March 1917, was Classical Master at the Skipton Grammar School. After several unsuccessful attempts, Mr. Thornton was accepted for the Army, and obtained his commission in a Labour Corps. His home was at Keswick where his mother resides. He was married shortly before joining up, and his widow, from whom confirmation of the sad news has been received at the School, lives in London. A member of the Oxford University O.T.C., Mr. Thornton was a valuable member of the local Volunteer Corps in its early days, and frequently acted as instructor to the very raw human materiel of which it was composed in its initial stage. He will be remembered with very kindly feelings by many friends in Skipton, and we tender sincere sympathy on their behalf to his mother and widow.
01 November 1918
MORE SKIPTON SACRIFICES – The Late Lieutenant J. H. B. Thornton
We reproduce a photograph of Second-Lieut. J. H. B. Thornton, who from September 1911, to March 1917, was Classical Master at the Skipton Grammar School, and who was killed in action on the Western Front on September 28th last, as announced in our columns on October 18th. He was attached to a Labour Corps, and his widow lives at 133 Queen’s Gate, London S.W.
04 July 1919
PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS
SECOND-LIEUTENANT J. B. THORNTON
Labour Corps, of Keswick. Killed in action on the Western Front September 28th, 1918. Former classical master at Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
18 October 1918
A Skipton Grammar School Master Killed
Mrs. Thornton, Blencathra Street, Keswick, has been officially informed of the death in action of her only son, Lieut. J.B. Thornton. He had a brilliant school career, winning a Wright Exhibition at Keswick High School. Later he won a Goldsmith Scholarship at Oxford. He become classic teacher at Stratford-on-Avon, and then came to Skipton Grammar School.
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