Thornton, James Henry

Age: 21
Date of birth: 10th March 1922

Parents: The late Mr William T Thornton and Mrs Edith Thornton (nee Pettipher)
Wife: Not known
Address: 23 Parkes Street, Warwick

Occupation: Employed by Burgis and Bullock Accountants

James parents married in 1913. His mother’s maiden name was Pettipher.

In 1939 James was living at 23 Parkes Street with his then widowed mother, Edith and two sisters Hilda (b.1916) and Margaret J (b.1924). James was employed as a gardener whilst Hilda was employed as a domestic help and Margaret was a shop assistant.

We know from the 1939 register that Edith remarried in 1947 to John Brown whilst Hilda and Margaret’s married surnames were Henry and Bishop respectively.

We know a James Thornton married Doris T Greaves in Warwick in Q3 1942 but are unsure whether this is the correct James. His CWGC record only shows his parents. We would welcome any further information in order to clarify this point.

James mother, Edith, died in 1970

Military Service

Rank & Number: Sergeant (Air Gunner), 1577977
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Brigade/Division: 103 Squadron
Date of death: 26th July 1943
Cause of death/Battle: Killed in action - shot down over Essen in Germany and five of the eight crew were killed
Commemorated/Buried: Buried in Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands. Plot EE. Grave 93.
Awards:
Commemorated locally at: St Paul's Church

James is buried in the Netherlands:

Contributors

  • Unlocking Warwick Research Group
  • Warwick Advertiser excerpts courtesy of Warwickshire County Record Office

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