Thornton Cemetery contains 17 war graves and has 16 war references. Thanks to Andrew C Bolt for his YouTube presentation. There are some Commonwealth war graves and some references to the fallen on family graves.
WW1
Alfred Ambler, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 37 seconds
Clarence Barker, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 45 seconds.
Herbert Butterfield, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 1 minute and 6 seconds Commonwealth War Grave, on a family plot.
Alfred Collier, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 1 minute and 34 seconds
Joseph Conroy 3 mintes , see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 1 minute and 41 seconds
Harry H. Craven, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 1 minute and 50 seconds
Clarence Dixon, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 1 minute and 58 seconds
Granville Dixon, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 2 minutes and 7 seconds
William H. Helliwell, see Thornton War Memorial WW1. Commonwealth War Grave. YouTube presentation at 2 minutes and 43 seconds.
Ben Jennings, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 1 second.
Eddy Leach, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 28 seconds
Morris Leach, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 28 seconds
Charlie Long, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 38 seconds
Horace Long, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 38 seconds
Geoffrey William Northrop, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 57 seconds
Sam Robinson, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 4 minutes and 15 seconds
Herman Whitham, see Thornton War Memorial WW1 YouTube presentation at 4 minutes and 32 seconds.
Harold Woodhead, born in 1895, son of Bairstow and Mary Jane Woodhead. His father farmed at Leaventhorpe Hall, but in the 1911 Census the family had moved to Crossley Hall. In that census Harold was a Clerk in an office at a Dyeworks. Private, 2nd Btn.. Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), #307420. Missing, presumed killed, 10 October 1917, aged 22. Commemorated at Tyne Cot Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 82 to 85 and 162A., and on the grave of Bairstow Woodhead in Thornton Cemetery. YouTube presentation at 4 minute and 49 seconds. (Updated 11 October, 2023)
WW2
Granville Bishop, see Thornton War Memorial WW2, YouTube presentation at 52 seconds. Commonwealth War Grave, laid flat on a family plot.
Ambler Carter, born in the last quarter of 1898, son of John and Lydia Carter; husband of Lily Carter, of 36 Firth Street, Thornton, Bradford, whom he married in 1920. In 1939 the family, excluding Ambler, lived at 8 Chat Hill Road. In WW1 Sapper, Royal Engineers 396 Coy. In WW2, 49 (6th Bn. The West Yorkshire Regt.) A.A. Bn., #4534691. Died 5 June 1942, aged 43. Grave reference: Section K, Grave 764, Thornton Cemetery. YouTube presentation at 1 minute and 15 seconds. Commonwealth War Grave. (Updated 5 July 2023)
John Wallace Clegg, born 5 December 1928, son of Wallace and Frances Eleanor Clegg, of 5 Brontë Old Road, Thornton, Bradford. Private, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, #19125946. Died 28 May 1947, aged 18. Grave reference: Section K, Grave 6, Thornton Cemetery. Remembered on a family grave. YouTube presentation at 1 minute and 23 seconds. (Updated 7 October 2023)
Fred Downs, see Thornton War Memorial WW2, YouTube presentation at 2 minutes and 15 seconds
Edmund Goodison, M.M., see Thornton War Memorial WW2, YouTube presentation at 2 minutes and 35 seconds. Commonwealth War Grave.
Wilfred Jowett, born 15 February 1920, son of Harry and Emmeline Jowett, of 12 Estcourt Place, Lidget Green, Bradford. In the 1939 Register he was a Clerk for Prov. Clothing, and a Supp. Officer for Customs and Excise Office. Sergeant (Observer) Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, #1058855. On 3 January, 1942, Sgt Jowett was on a day cross-country flying training exercise, having set off from RAF Upwood in Cambridgeshire, in a Blenheim IV aircraft, serial number 5969, when the aircraft dived and crashed near Shrewsbury, killing the 3 crew on board. He was aged 21. Grave reference: Section J, grave 502, Thornton Cemetery YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 9 seconds. (Updated 1 January 2023)
Maurice Knapton, see Thornton War Memorial WW2 YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 19 seconds
John Stanley May, son of Elizabeth May of 6A The Square, Fairweather Green. Flying Officer / Navigator / Air Bomber, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Shawbury, Shropshire, #1016364. Died 25 June, 1946, aged 21. He was flying in a Wellington Aircraft, serial number NC661, while taking 2 air cadets who were on camp at RAF Shawbury, on an air experience flight. The starboard engine packed up, and attempting to land on one engine lost control and crashed near Derby. All 4 aircrew and 2 air cadets were killed. Interred in Thornton Cemetery, section K, number 616. His grave is marked by a standard CWGC headstone on a family plot. YouTube presentation at 3 minutes and 48 seconds. He is also remembered on the former Sacred Heart Church war memorial. (Updated 12 November 2019))
Robert Travers O’Neill, born 27 May 1921, son of Robert David and Alice O’Neill of Odd Down, Bath, Somerset. In the 1939 Register he lived with his parents at Restormel House, 4 Chester Way, Kennington, Lambeth, London, and was employed as a “Bank Clerk, Foreign Branch”, Pilot Officer / Navigator Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, #119900. Died 17 June, 1942, aged 21. During a training day-flying exercise in a Blenheim IV aircraft, serial number R3611, at RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire, an engine failed after take-off and the aircraft dived into the ground from 500 feet. Grave reference: Sec. J, grave 429, Thornton Cemetery. Commonwealth War Grave stone on a family plot. YouTube presentation at 4 minutes and 7 seconds (Updated 16 June 2023)
Jack Worsnop, son of John and May Worsnop of 139 Ingleby Road, Bradford. He attended Thornton Grammar School from 1930 to 1935. He joined the RAF from school. Sergeant, (Flight Engineer), 101 Sqdn, Royal Air Force, #568572. Died 17 December, 1942, aged 23. He was Flight engineer in a Lancaster Mk B1 aircraft from 101 Squadron based at Holme-on-Spalding Moor, numbered W4319-N, one of 50 aircraft on mine-laying duties between Denmark and the Bay of Biscay. The crew was made up three sergeants from the RAF, three sergeants from the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and one from the Royal Canadian Air Force. Weather conditions were terrible and some of the 50 aircraft returned unable to lay mines because of poor visibility. The crew of W4319-N, however managed to lay 6 mines off Heligoland before setting off for home.
At the same time that they approached the English coast the Luftwaffe were mounting an attack on York. Two German aircraft were shot down near to Whitby. Another enemy attack was around Redcar. Sgt. Worsnop’s aircraft was off course and its IFF (Identification Friend or Foe transmitting device) was not working. Thus when the aircraft was picked up by British radar it was assumed to be hostile. It was flying at about 250 feet when it banked near to Warrenby Ironworks, near to Redcar, when an anti-aircraft searchlight picked it out. It was then shot down by British anti-aircraft shells at Grangetown between Middlesbrough and Redcar at about 10.05pm. The next day it was realised that there had been a terrible accident. There were no survivors. His body was recovered and interred at Thornton Cemetery on Christmas Eve 1942. Grave reference: Sec J, grave 394, (a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone), Thornton Cemetery. Also remembered on Thornton Grammar School war memorial; YouTube presentation at 4 minutes and 59 seconds. Sgt Worsnop is also remembered on the Roll of Honour of 101 Squadron at St. Mary’ Church at Ludford Magna, Lincolnshire and on a memorial plaque located on the Lord McGowan Bridge in Teesside. and at the International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln. (Updated 23 December 2023)
Arthur Young, born on 31 August 1913, 3rd son of Joseph and Edith Young, of 82 Rosse Street, Bradford. In the 1939 Register he was employed as a bricklayer, living with his wife Gladys Mary at 30 Well Heads. Sergeant, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, #2206984. During a night navigational and fighter affiliation exercise in a Lancaster aircraft, serial number R5492, from RAF Winthorpe near Newark, Nottinghamshire, the aircraft dived into the ground 1 mile southwest of Exeter airfield, killing all 7 men on board. Died 3 September 1943, aged 30. Grave reference: Section K, Grave 774, Thornton Cemetery. YouTube presentation at 5 minutes and 7 seconds. (Updated 5 September 2023)
After WW2
Walter Ernest Fletcher, DCM, C de G., born in South Africa in 1896, the son of Ada Fletcher who was a widow in the 1911 census, living at 58 Clifford Terrace, Wibsey. Walter, then 14, was a Piece Looker in a Worsted Mill. He subsequently enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery, 250th Siege Battery, becoming a Serjeant, He was discharged in 1931, having been awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Croix de Guerre, He died on 23 July, 1956. YouTube presentation at 2 minutes and 25 second. (Updated 24 October, 2018)
Ingham Iveson, M.M., Son of John William and Lucy Iveson, who in the 1911 census were living at 31 Paley Terrace. At the time Ingham was an apprentice brass moulder. Born 1894, enlisted into the West Yorkshire Regiment, 16th Battalion (the Bradford Pals), possibly transferred to the Lancashire Fusiliers as a Private, #57347. Survived the war. Died, aged 76 on 9 October, 1970, and is buried in Thornton Cemetery with his first wife, Ellen and their son Ellis, and with his second wife Ada. YouTube presentation at 2 minute and 52 seconds. (Updated 24 October 2018)
Kenneth Walker, YouTube presentation at 4 minutes and 25 seconds
William Sidney Wood, YouTube presentation at 4 minute and 41 seconds
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