THORNTON, Harold James
| Service Numbers: | 9991, Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 March 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | Royal Flying Corps |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia , 1897 |
| Home Town: | Longueville, Lane Cove, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Longueville Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Mechanical engineer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, England, 23 September 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, Commemorative Roll, Australian War Memorial, Longueville Public School Honour Roll (World War I) |
| Memorials: | Longueville Public School WW1 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 9991, 9th Field Company Engineers | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jul 1916: | Involvement 9991, 9th Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jul 1916: | Embarked 9991, 9th Field Company Engineers, HMAT Ajana, Sydney | |
| 16 Mar 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 9991, 9th Field Company Engineers, Discharged to the Royal Flying Corps with rank of 2nd Lieutenant | |
| 23 Sep 1917: | Involvement British Forces (All Conflicts), Lieutenant Colonel, Officer, Royal Flying Corps |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
2nd Lieutenant Harold James Thornton went missing forever when he took off from Seaton Carew aerodrome in Durham, England on the night of 23 September 1917, with his observer Lt. C.A. Moore at around 1.50 a.m. in chase of the Zeppelin raiders and in the early hours in an F.E.2d aircraft serial number A6461. ‘No trace was found of the No. 36 Squadron F.E.2d crewed by Thornton and Moore, believed to have run out of petrol while trying to regain the coast after chasing a Zeppelin far out to sea’. Both are remembered on the Hollybrook Memorial at Southhampton. Prior to joining the 36th (Home Defence) Squadron, Thornton had served with the 9th Field Company Engineers during his service with the AIF and was originally from Longueville, NSW.