Henry Albert Thorp

Henry Albert Thorp

Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1891
Place of Birth	Fremantle, Western Australia
Death	26 Feb 1956, aged 65
Place of Death	Mt Pleasant, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	25 years, 3 months
Description	5'4" (1.63m) tall ; 110lbs 49.895 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Carpenter
Religion	Methodist
Address	Albany road, Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs Grace Emily Thorp
Military Information
Reg Number	5929
Date of Enlistment	17 Apr 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	28th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	10 Oct 1916 ‒ 12 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A23 Suffolk Fremantle to Plymouth
Date of Return	17 Jun 1918 ‒ 8 Aug 1918
Ship Returned On	HMT Matatua
Fate	WIA 1 Nov 1917 Broodseinde Returned to Australia (medical)
Monument	Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll name misspelt
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

In 1911 Henry married Grace Emily Douglas in Claremont. Grace died on 22 Jul 1972, aged 85 in Mt Pleasant.

Electoral Roll entry: 1914 Maddington, carpenter.

War Service

Entered camp on 17 Apr 1916 and several weeks later on 9 May 1916 he was assigned to the 16th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion and travelled with them to England aboard HMAT A23 Suffolk. On arrival in England he was briefly sent to a training battalion before he proceeded overseas to France on 28 Dec 1916 from Folkestone aboard HMT Princesse Clementine.

Taken on strength by the 28th Battalion on 27 Jan 1917 while they were in billets at Buire preparing to return to the front lines. On 7 Jun 1917 he report sick to the 5th Field Ambulance, which passed him on next day to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station. On 12 Jun 1917 he was placed on an Ambulance Train for Rouen where he was admitted to the 9th General Hospital on 13 Jun 1917 suffering with trench fever. On 24 Jun 1917 Henry was released to the No 2 Convalescent Depot, and on 26 Jun 1917 he was moved to the No 11 Convalescent Depot. Henry eventually returned to his unit on 23 Oct 1917.

On 1 Nov 1917 Henry was caught in a major enemy gas attack at Broodseinde and was affected by it, requiring medical attention. Primarily the gasses used were Phosgene and Lachrymatory. Treated by the 3rd Field Ambulance, who passed him back to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station, and the next day (2 Nov 1917) he was admitted to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen. On 15 Nov 1917 he boarded HMHS Grantully Castle for England, where he was admitted to the Exeter War Hospital on 16 Nov 1917.

Following treatment he was granted furlough from 22 Jan 1918 until 5 Feb 1918 when he was to report to No.4 Command Depot in Hurdcott. On 6 Feb 1918 Henry was charged with having been AWOL from 11:00am on 5 Feb 1918 until 7:30 am on 6 Feb 1918. He was admonished and forfeited 2 day's pay. On 3 Apr 1918 he was sent to the No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth to prepare for return to Australia. Suffering with chronic bronchitis he was sent home for a change on 17 Jun 1918. Discharged by the 5th Military District on 4 Sep 1918.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1922 - 1925 Pallinup, Gnowangerup, farming; 1931 - 1943 at 33 Dalgety street, Fremantle, carpenter; 1949 Dempster street, Esperance, builder; 1954 at 352 Sydenham street, Belmont, builder