Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Arras Flying Services Memorial | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.136 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 33B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Mentioned in Despatches | ||
Early Life :
Guy was born in 1882 the second and younger son of the late Mr Edwin Henry Thorne, solicitor of Wolverhampton, who had himself held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Force and Mrs. Thorne, of The Roseries, Down Road, Bexhill, whose only other son, Lieutenant-Colonel Harold Underhill Hatton Thorne, was killed in action on May 9th.He was educated at the Wolverhampton Grammar School (1893-1899) and rendered service as a member of the 1st XI, in both cricket and football and still more notably as Editor of The Wulfrunian. "He had a frankness and a gift of humour that made him everyone’s friend. As a tennis player he was specially gifted."
Upon leaving Grammar school he attended Birmingham Technical School whilst completing his indentures. He travelled around and, in 1904, he became chief assistant tester and subsequently outworking inspector and tester with Messrs. Bellis and Morcom. In May 1906 he was appointed chief assistant electrical engineer to the China Light and Power Company, becoming a few months later engineer-in-charge at the Canton Station. In July 1909 he was appointed Manager of the Chinese Government Power Company at Canton, a position which he retained until the outbreak of hostilities.
He was elected an Associate Member of the Institution of Chartered Electrical Engineers in 1912, and became a Member in 1914.
He married, in November 1917, Mary Gwendoline Charlotte, only child of Commander Hillman, R.N., of Invergordon.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 13th Squadron |
| Action : German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line |
The German Army realised that shortening the front line by retiring to better prepared positions would reduce the demand for manpower and offer better defensive capabilities. Accordingly the German engineers constructed what the British referered to as The Hindenburg Line in the sector of the Western Front largely behind (to the East of) the 1916 Somme battlefield. The retreat was done in stages. The official dates covering this period are 14 March to 5 April 1917.
Detail :
GUY STAFFORD THORNE A.M.I.E.E., M.I.M.E., Captain, Royal Flying Corps.
Having joined the R.F.C as soon as he could be released from his post, he was commissioned into the R.F.C. and sent to France in 1916. There he was speedily recognised as a pilot of exceptional powers, whose technical knowledge and skill gave great value to his services, and his work was mentioned in despatches. On the evening of March 18th 1917, charged with a special mission, he was flying over Arras when five enemy aeroplanes attacked him. He was very severely wounded but contrived to land his machine and observer behind the German lines. He was captured and a few hours later he died. He had married just a year ago the only daughter of Commander H E Hillman R.N.
David Barnes: Captain GUY STAFFORD THORNE, R.F.C., missing since March 18th, brought his aeroplane and observer safely to earth on that day, but died of wounds shortly afterwards. Shortly after the war broke out he obtained leave of absence, and was given a commission in the R.F.C. He became an expert pilot, soon attaining the rank of Captain.Killed in Action in BE2d5770, with 2/Lieut P E H Van Baerle, who was taken Prisoner of War.
See also: Air War 1914-1918.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Star of Southern China No. 2013 E.C. | Hong Kong & Far East |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
3rd December 1910 | 4th February 1911 | 4th March 1911 |
Resigned from Southern Star of China, Canton Region on 31st December 1915 and doesn't immediately appear to have joined any other Lodge. He had reached the office of Worshipful Master.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley