Thorne North

First Name: 
Thorne
Last Name: 
North
Mother's Name: 
Margaret North
Father's Name: 
William James North
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, March 27, 1916
Rank at Enlistment: 
Sapper
Unit: 
Mining Corps
Service: 
Infantry
Date of Death: 
Wednesday, September 19, 1917
Place of Death: 
Belgium
Cause of Death: 
KIA
Details: 

Thorne North (Sevice No 3656) was one of nine children born to Margaret and James North, and the first to be born in Balgownie, the family having moved to the area from Sunny Corner, near Bathurst in 1888.

When Thorne enlisted on 27 March 1916, he was 26 years old, employed at the Mt Pleasant Colliery as a miner and worked with his father and brother William.  Thorne was married to Elizabeth Jane, (nee Fielding) and had two daughters.

At enlistment, Thorne was assigned to the Mining Corps - No 4 Tunnelling Company, and on 22 May 1916, he embarked with his Company on the troopship HMS Warilda A69 in Sydney. The troops disembarked at Plymouth, England, on 18 July 1916, then proceeded to France on 28 August 1916.

Thorne was engaged in the 1st Battle of the Somme as a Tunneller, and was among the troops which set the scene for the massive explostion which took place at Hill 60. A total of 57 similar mines were laid by many of the Balgownie men of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Tunnelling Companies, including Thorne and his brother William.

On 18 September 1917, Thorne was wounded in action and died on the following day with his brother William by his side.

Thorne was buried at the Huts Cemetery, Dickebusch, Belgium,on 20 September 1917.

His service and sacrifice is commemorated on the Balgownie War Memorial.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455 NORTH THORNE