Born in Stepney, London.
Enlisted at London on the 21st of August 1841.
Age: 18.
Height: 5' 7".
Trade: Servant.
At the Maidstone Depot from the 29th of August until the Regiment returned from India in March 1842.
From Private to Corporal: 17th of October 1843.
Reverted to Private, "at his own request", on the 16th of May 1844.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of December 1845.
Corporal to Sergeant: 26th of December 1846.
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 27th of December 1849.
At Scutari from the 3rd of April - 11th of May 1855.
Died, "at Balaclava", on the 22nd of July 1855.
Next of kin: Wife, Maria Charlotte Thorpe, living in Strand Street, London.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol.
William Henry thorpe died, "at Balaclava", on the 22nd of July 1855.
A memorial cross of either wood or stone was erected over his grave in the 13th Light Dragoon Cemetery on the road between Kadikoi and Karani and in 1856 bore the inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Troop Sergeant Major J. [sic] Thorpe, who died whilst serving in the Crimea. 'Requiescat in Pace'".
A son, John Robert, entered the Royal Military Asylum (also known as The Duke of York's School) at Chelsea on the of September 1863, aged 10 years and 5 months. His father was shown as "Dead" and his mother as "Still Alive". He was "Delivered over to his mother," on the 3rd of April 1867.