Lionel Bernard Thorne

Story:
Lionel Bernard Thorne was born in 1889 in Woodcutts, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset, and baptised (as 'Lionel' only) there on 1st August, 1889. He was the son of Tom Thorne, a Labourer, and Eliza Thorne (nee Kiddle). His father died and was buried at Berwick St. John, Wiltshire, on 7th May 1907. At the time of the 1911 Lionel was single and working as a Farm Labourer living at Woodcutts. He enlisted in Blandford, Dorset, on 11th August, 1914 as a Private and joined the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment (Service No. 9910). He served in the Middle East from 11 Jul 1915 until August 1916 when he was posted to France & Flanders. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals as well as the 1915 Star. He received a number of wounds whilst fighting in France but had eventually been reported missing presumed killed on 26th September 1916. A further report stated that he had been buried in the field. His remains were obviously recovered after the Armistice and re-buried at Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt, Somme, France, along with bodies from other battlefield burial sites (grave id. IX.J.4). He is remembered on the Sixpenny Handley War Memorial. His mother, who died in 1928, was awarded a dependent's pension of 12s. 6d. (62p.) per week.