THORNALLEY, Allatt Barber


2nd Lieutenant, Allatt Barber THORNALLEY,
Aged 33


2nd/5th Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment
formerly 305117, Sgt, Suffolk Regt
formerly 2155, Suffolk Yeomanry
Killed in Action on Sunday, 1st July 1917


Registered Allatt THORNALLAY (4th qtr 1884 MILDENHALL 4a:688) son of Abraham and Clara THORNALLEY (née FINCHAM). Allett or Allatt, Thornalley or Thornally, there are frequent changes of spelling.

1891 census...Aged 6, he was at Holywell Road, Mildenhall with his father Abraham THORNALLEY [35] farm labourer born Freston Fen, Lincs; his mother Clara [32]; sisters Mary [10] and Sarah [8]; brother Harry J [2]. All except his father born in Mildenhall.

1901 census...Aged 16, a grocer's assistant, he was at 59 Guildhall Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his parents (father now ostler); brothers Harry and Stanley [7] (born Stowmarket); sister Florence [9] Allatt and his mother now recorded as born in Beck Row.

1911 census...Aged 26, provisions shop manager, he was boarding with Arthur SHEAD at 26 Constable Road, Felixstowe. Now recorded as Allatt Bernard Thornalley born Spilsby, Lincs.

Kathleen Iris POTTER of 1 Neal Street, Ipswich is recorded on one pension card ? ( when he was in Suffolk Yeomanry).


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.

BEAUCAMP..1st July...The battalion was relieved on the night of 1st/2nd July 1917 by the 2/4th Bn Lincoln Regt on the Brigade right sub sector, map reference 57c.SE 1/20000 Q.5.s.30.20.to Q.12.b.15.95. On completion of relief at about 12:45 am the battalion marched to EQUANCOURT 57c.Y.16.b.6.1.
The Battalion furnished 2 officers and 22 other ranks for patrol duty. This patrol passed through the wire near BOAR COPSE about 10:45 pm on 1st July. 2nd Lt L L Tyler who was in charge of this patrol arrived at Battalion HQ Q.17.b.2.6. at about 1:15 am on 2nd July and reported that his patrol had been engaged with an enemy patrol, about 30 or 40 strong and that 2/Lt A.THORNALLAY and 10 other ranks were missing
As the relief of the Battalion had been completed the |OC 2/4th Linc Reg was asked to furnish a patrol for the purpose of searching for the missing officer and men. This patrol was no ready and did not leave until about 2:30 am. The patrol was taken charge of by 2/Lt R E GEE and 2/Lt L L TYLER (who was in charge of the original patrol) accompanied it. They did not reach the wire until daylight and could not search the ground in front of our wire. The following are the casualties -killed Officers nil, other ranks nil...wounded officers nil, other ranks five, missing 2/Lt A THORNALLAY, other ranks 4.
The next day, in broad daylight, a ptrol went out and this time found the missing men. 2/Lt THORNALLY and 3 other ranks were dead.








photo C.W.G.C.


Allatt Thornalley is buried in Metz-en-Couture Communal Cemetery British Extension 2:A:15

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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