Born at Barnstaple, Devonshire c.1821.
According to the Barnstaple parish records in Devon County Record Office, he was baptised on the 17th of November 1821, the son of William Thorne of Castle Ditch, a labourer, and his wife, Mary. The officiating priest was the Rev. Luxmore.
1841 Census
Hardaway Head, Barnstaple.
William Thorne, 60, Labourer.
Alice Thorne, 45,
Jane Thorne, 14.
Susan Thorne, 9.
William Thorne, 24 [sic?], Cabinet M[aker.
John Thorne, 16, Shoe M[aker]. [CP]
Enlisted at Exeter on the 26th of December 1843.
Age: 21.
Height: 5' 8".
Trade: Turner.
Wounded in action at Balaclava, being assisted back to the English lines by 1460 J.H. Herbert.
1460 James H. Herbert mentions him in an interview given in 1912:
"Directly I got through I fell in with an old comrade named Thorne. He was shot through the foot and terribly weak through loss of blood. As I galloped past him I seized hold of his horse's reins, he himself having lost command of his mount. I told him to hang on like grim death to the saddle and I would try to save his life. All this time the Russians were taking pot-shots at us; but I got him back alright..."
Sent to Scutari on the 26th of October 1854, was invalided to Malta aboard the "Jura" on the 15th of December, where he remained until the 4th of January before being sent to England aboard the "Canberra" between the 4/15 of January 1855.
He was among the wounded soldiers seen by Queen Victoria on her visit to Brompton Barracks, Chatham, on the 3rd of March 1855.
Sent to Barnstaple "on sick leave until discharge" on the 30th of June 1855.
He was finally discharged from Chatham Invalid Depot on the 6th of November 1855.
"Unfit for further service. Disabled by permanent lameness from gun-shot and lance wounds of the left foot."
Served 11 years 271 days.
Conduct: "good".
In possession of two Good Conduct badges.
Aged 33 years on discharge.
Pension details to the 20th of November 1879.
A letter was sent to the Patriotic Fund giving details of his disability, after he had been twice refused an increase in pension.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma. Balaclava and Sebastopol.
Present at the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
His name was on the 1877 list of members of the Balaclava Commemoration Society, but not on the 1879 revised list.
[PB: He died early in 1879.]
1861 Census
Lower Maudlin Street, Barnstaple.
William Thorne, 43, Wood Turner & Chelsea Pensioner, born Barnstaple.
Elizabeth Thorne, 38, born Pilton near Barnstable. [CP]
1871 Census
Fairmantle Street, Kenwyn, Truro, Cornwall.
William Thorne, 53, Turner, born Barnstaple,
Elizabeth Thorne, 47, Turner's wife, born Barnstaple.
Thomas Thorne, 49, brother, Tallow Chandler, born Barnstaple. [CP]
A man of this name is shown in the St. Catherine's House registers as having died in the Barnstaple District, aged 62 years during the January-March quarter of 1879.
Death registered
William Thorne, aged 62 years, March Quarter 1879, Barnstable.
(Is said to have died at Barnstaple on the 3rd of February 1879, aged 56 years [sic] and buried in Barnstaple Parish Churchyard but where no erected head-stone can be found for him. See photograph of the churchyard in the 4th Hussar file.)
From the North Devon Herald, 6th of February 1879:
Deaths. Thorne — Feb. 3rd at Hardaway Road, Barnstaple, Mr. William Thorne, aged 62.
From the Supplement, North Devon Herald, 13th February 1879:
"Death of a Balaclava Veteran. — On Monday last Mr. William Thorne died at Hardaway Road, Barnstaple, at the age of 62. Deceased served in the 4th Light Dragoons and was of the "600" who took part in the famous but ill-fated Balaclava charge in 1854. He received a wound in his foot, from the effects of which he was for some years a cripple, although he has of late, worked as a cabinet maker. He was buried in the Holy Trinity Churchyard yesterday (Sunday afternoon, and the greater part, if not all, of the bearers were pensioners. The funeral was largely attended, the deceased being a native of the town."
There is a photograph of the churchyard in the 4th Hussar file.
1881 Census
Hardaway Head, Barnstaple.
Elizabeth Thorne, widow, 55, Laundress, born Barnstaple.
[NB. This address appears the same as where her husband lived according to the 1841 Census. [CP]]
1891 Census
North Devon Infirmary, Barnstaple.
Elizabeth Thorne, widow, 66, Nurse midwife, born Pilton. [CP]
1901 Census
Litchdon Street, Barnstaple.
No 16 Almhouse.
Elizabeth Thorne, Boarder, widow, 74, Retired Nurse, born Pilton. [CP]
Death registered
Elizabeth Thorne, aged 75 years, December Quarter 1902, Barnstaple. [CP]
Census data and registration of death kindly provided by Chris Poole.