R. Thornton
FIRST NAMES: Robert
UNIT: Lincolnshire Regiment, Labour Corps
NUMBER:31635 (39303?)
STATUS: Died of Wounds
DATE OF DEATH: 2nd December 1917
CEMETERY OR MEMORIAL: Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge
AGE: 20
Robert was born in Northallerton and his parents lived at 11 New Row, Northallerton.
The village of Lijssenthoek is located 11.5 Kilometres to the West of Ypres, just off the main road between Ypres and Poperinge. Most importantly, it was just outside the range of German shellfire, and therefore made an ideal place for a large concentration of field hospitals and casualty clearing stations. As usual, the cemetery sprang up around the hospitals and the concentration led to the development of the second largest British War Cemetery, with a total of almost 10,000 graves.
One of those is that of 20 year old Robert Thornton, from Northallerton.