John Thorpe
Location:
St James’s Episcopal Church
Ardbrecknish, Dalmally
Argyll
PA33 1BJ
Details on cross:
At top of the shaft a GRU Tag:
GRU 3
On the shaft:
R.I.P.
With a metal badge of the Scots Guards below that
On the cross beam:
CAPTAIN J.S. THORPE.
2nd BN SCOTS GUARDS.
On the shaft under the cross beam:
KILLED IN ACTION 16-9-16
Text type: Black hand painted lettering
Cross dimensions (Approx)
Shaft Height: 1600 mm
Cross beam width: 560 mm
Width of wood: 100 mm
Thickness or depth: 25 mm
Other information:
Mounting to wall: Attached to the wall with a small plate.
Detailing: Untreated timber black lettering.
Evidence of use in field: The cross has clearly been shortened at one time, but marks of being in the ground are still evident, as is some soil.
Surface insertion depth (if apparent): 200 mm (NB Shortened)
Finish (varnish, paint, oiled, unfinished etc): Painted as described
Condition: Good overall, with original marks and some paint fading.
Notes and observations:
1) Somerled, this officer’s middle name, is the ancient name of the Lord of the Isles, the Viking king of Argyll and the Islands.
2) NB CWGC records this officer as a Major.
3) There is a stone monument to this officer standing outside the church
4) Additionally he is commemorated in Coddington Parish Church in Nottingham-shire where the family had an estate.
There is a blog on John Thorpe on the website here
CWGC:
Thorpe, John Somerled
Rank:Major
Date of Death:15/09/1916 Age:44
Regiment/Service: Scots Guards 2nd Bn.
Awards: M C
Grave Reference: Q. 39.
Cemetery: CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information: Husband of Elizabeth Cecilia Thorpe, of “Coombelands,” Pullborough, Sussex.
Survey and photographs courtesy of Scott Galloway
Date of survey: 28/10/2016
