Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Diamond Hill, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between third and fourth clasps (6558 Pte. W. L. Thorne, 27th. Coy. 7th. Imp: Yeo:) nearly extremely fine £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Peter and Dee Helmore.

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William Lock Thorne was born in Tiverton, Devon in 1877. An Ironmonger by occupation he enlisted in the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry Cavalry, and following the outbreak of the war in South Africa he volunteered at Exeter for one year with the colours for the Imperial Yeomanry on 30 December 1899. Posted 6558 Private to the 27th (Devon) Company 7th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry at Topsham Barracks, Exeter he embarked on SS Manchester Merchant with the 1st Contingent of the 27th Company for South Africa on 1 March 1900 and took part in various actions including those at Constantia Farm, Pretoria and Diamond Hill. During his time in South Africa he was attached to the Provisional Transvaal Constabulary from June to October 1900.

Whilst conducted a convoy to Nooitgedacht the 27th Company where surprised by the Boers whilst in camp on 13 December 1900 and Private Thorne was severely wounded in the action; in all the 27th Company suffered 2 Officers wounded, 5 men killed and 9 wounded, both Sergeant Bright and Trooper Cole being awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. On recovery from his wounds he rejoined 27th Company and spent the remainder if his time in South Africa employed in trekking and clearing operations in Western Transvaal before embarking for home arriving on 11 April 1901. He was discharged at his own request from further service on 25 May 1901 having service 1 year and 147 days. His Queen’s South Africa Medal with three clasp was presented to him at Exeter by General Sir Redvers Buller VC on 25 October 1901 and his South Africa 1901 clasp followed in September 1903.

Returning to his family Ironmongery business in Tiverton he enlisted with the 4th Territorial Battalion Devonshire Regiment and was mobilised in 1914 as Corporal 3/4th Devonshire Regiment Depot Exmouth as Battalion Armourer. Tested at Devonport and found to be ‘a good filer and likely to make a good Armourer’ he was transferred to the Army Ordnance Corps (New Army) on 29 December 1915. Posted Armourer Private Regimental to Army Ordnance Corps (N.F.) Armourer Section he was promoted Sergeant Armourer and appointed Sergeant and then further promoted Staff Sergeant Armourer on 3 May 1916. He embarked for France on 27 July 1916 and returned Home on 13 October 1917 being posted to No. 8 Section Colchester and then to No. 4 Section Devonport from whence he proceeded to Dispersal Station Fovant in January 1919 (only to fall over barbed wire at Fovant Camp and injure his leg). Admitted to hospital at Fovant with a fractured right leg on 20 January 1919 the leg was subsequently amputated. Granted extended furlough from Military Hospital, Devonport whilst awaiting the fitting of an artificial limb he was finally discharged no longer physically fit for War Service on 11 September 1920 and awarded a 50% Disability Pension. He died in Tiverton on 22 February 1936, aged 57.

Sold with copied research.