THOROGOOD, Walter



No.18110, Private, Walter THOROGOOD
Aged 28


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Monday, 13th November 1916


Walter Thorogood was born in Cowlinge (Risbridge Q2-1883 4A:5754), baptised in Cowlinge on 18th November 1883, son of Alfred and Jane THOROGOOD (née MURKIN).

1891 census...Aged 8, he was at New England, Cowlinge with his father Alfred THOROGOOD [39] farm labourer born in Wickhambrook; his mother Jane [37] born Wickhambrook; sisters Sarah [17] born Wickhambrook, Ellen [15], Julia [5], Kate [3] and Flora [4 months]; brothers James [11] and Herbert [10] all these younger siblings born in Cowlinge.

1901 census...Aged 17, a farm labourer, he was at Wickhambrook Road, Cowlinge with his parents; sisters Sarah, Kate and Florrie; brothers James and Herbert(both farm labourers).

In 1907 he married Kate NUNN [22-3-1887], from Kedington

1911 census... Aged 24 (he seems to have 'lost' around 4 years), a farm labourer, he was at Attleton Green, Wickhambrook with his wife Kate [22] born Kedington and their daughter Edith May [12-8-1908] born Wickhambrook.

They had a further two cildren, Alison Maud [3-5-1911] and Sidney Thomas Walter [11-5-1914], on the pension card living at Great Grape Villa, Cowlinge




He enlisted in Newmarket. It appears from CWGC records that he gave the wrong age,also they have his mother as Jean, instead of Jane.
According to Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment":- At 05:00 on November 13th the 1st wave floundered forward into No Man's Land, a sea of mud in which movement was barely possible. 3/4 of an hour later the attack began. The mist thickened with the smoke of the barrage, making direction very difficult to maintain.Very quickly all the officers in the leading companies fell and with a lack of leaders no real progress was made. Some leading companies did reach the German second line, but all in vain. The battalion was re-organised in its original front line, remaining for the rest of the day before marching back to Courcelles the next day.

Murphy gives the casualties as 272 including 11 officers. CWGC have 81 of the 2nd Suffolks killed.



Walter was found here, identified by his cap badge and a groundsheet marked 'THORO...'


photo; Pierre Vandervelden www.inmemories.com



Walter Thorogood is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No.1 , grave 5:D:6

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


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