William Thornton 1888

[mjay]

William Thornton
24 Apr 1889 Tipton on service records

THORNTON, WILLIAM    DAVIES  GRO Reference: 1888  J Quarter in DUDLEY  Volume 06C  Page 53
Registration PlaceDudley, Staffordshire, England
Volume6cPage53

Parents
James Thornton
Rosanna Davies

1891: 32A High Street, Tipton
James Thornton 37 Head Anchor Smith
Rosanna Thornton 35 Wife
James Thornton 15 Son Forge Boy
Annie Thornton 11 Dau
Mary J Thornton 8 Dau
Alfred Thornton 6 Son
Maggie Thornton 4 Dau
William Thornton 2 Son
(all born Tipton)

1901: 19 Lock Side, Tipton
James Thornton 48 Lab Iron Works Dudley, Worc
Rose Thornton 46 Dudley, Worc
Alfred Thornton 16 Son Iron Moulder Tipton
William Thornton 13 Son Tipton
Joseph Thornton 10 Son Tipton
Thomas Thornton 7 Son Tipton
Daniel Thornton 5 Son Tipton


1911 His naval service record shows that from 3 Mar 1911 to July 1912, he was on HMS Blenheim, which was part of the Mediterranean Fleet, so it is likely that is where he was for the 1911 census.
Found the location of HMS Blenheim on the night of the 1911 census - Felixstowe.
Have some Service history from newspaper article

UK, Royal Navy Registers of Seamen's Services, 1848-1939
William Thornton
Birth Date: 24 Apr 1889 Tipton, Staffs.
First Service Date: 16 Feb 1909
First Ship Served On: Acheron
Last Service Date: 27 Feb 1919
Last Ship Served On: Pembroke II
Service Number: SS108089

[mjay]

Tipton Herald 18th November 1916 
PATRIOTIC TIPTON FAMILY. 
WHOLE OF SIX BROTHERS IN ARMY OR NAVY. 
YOUNGEST OF FAMILY GIVES HIS LIFE. 
What is believed to be a record for Tipton is the case of six brothers named Thornton, who until the death in action of the youngest a fortnight ago, were all serving in the Army or Navy. The father of the six patriotic citizens was James Thornton, an anchorsmith, who was born in Tipton. He was employed by Messrs. H.P. Parkes & Co. Ltd., and lived latterly at 20 Lockside. His wife, who was a Miss Davies, came from a well-known iron-making family, residing in Cross and Union Streets, Tipton. The mother was born in New Cross Street, and died in the same street about three years ago. They had six sons - the subjects of the current sketch, and three daughters. 
The eldest brother, James Thornton, was aged 41 last May. He is married and has a family of five children, who reside with their mother in Hall Street, Dudley Road. He is as old soldier, and was on the reserve a fortnight when the South African war broke out. He re-joined, and went through that campaign without a scratch. He re-joined the Army soon after the outbreak of war in November 1914. Formerly with the Worcesters, he is now attached to the Staffordshires. He has been engaged all through the current campaign, and is up to now, fortunately, uninjured. He was employed at the Tipton Furnaces.
The next son is Alfred, of H.M.S. Achilles , a leading stoker. He was 30 in June last. He is married and his wife and child reside in Portsmouth. While living in Tipton, he was employed at Messrs. Stewart & Lloyd's tube works, locally known as the Australian Works. His family are proud of the fact that all through his naval career he has never got a black mark. He joined the senior service in September 1904, and in the ordinary course of things his period at sea would have ended in the present year. He has served on several different vessels, including H.M.S.'s "Furious", "Kestrel" and "King Alfred." On the latter, he was three years in the China and Japanese Seas, and returned on the "Hawk." On H.M.S. "Furious" he was two years serving in South American waters. From South America he was appointed to the "Achilles," on which he remained for four years. He has tried for the position of Chief Stoker, but his eyesight failed, and so while doing the work he does not carry the rank. While out in Japanese waters and during shore leave, he purchased some lovely Japanese silk work at Nagasaki, which he sent home to his married sister, Mrs Webb.
William Thornton, aged 27 (single), has served in the Navy and was on the reserve when the war broke out, working at Chatwin's Foundry. Prior to that time among his experiences was that on board H.M.S. "Eden" which ran aground on the Scottish coast, and he had to wade ashore. The whole of the crew lost their belongings, although the vessel was afterwards re-floated. He also served for a time on the ill-fated "Cressy". At the outbreak of war he was appointed to the Naval Brigade, who were sent to the defence of Antwerp. He was one of the 2,000 sailors, who, driven back by the German hordes, had to cross the Dutch frontier, and had been interred ever since. Seaman Thornton's married sister sends him every week a copy of this journal, which he says he could not possibly do without. While he is in the great Dutch internment camp of Groningen, he met a sergeant from Toll End, whom he had not known before. His letters, which are regularly received, are very cheerful. There are 1,500 English sailors quartered together and they have a football match every afternoon. They are allowed four hours per month in the local town, and are regularly taken to the picture palace, which they greatly enjoy. In his spare time he has very cleverly worked in wool, a patriotic design with flags, mottoes etc., which he has sent to Mr and Mrs Joseph Webb. He has also made a model of a Hospital Ship, which came all the way from Holland without the fracturing of a thread. The article came to the sailor's Tipton friends without a fee. He has also had his photo taken by a firm in Groningen, and got a big enlargement for 3d extra, which has been safely received by his married sister (Mrs J. Webb). It is rather interesting to note that a special effort was made in Tipton to relieve the monotony of the sailors interred in Holland, for a band of young ladies was formed, who guaranteed to act as special correspondents to the Naval Brigade, each one taking one of the sailors under her wing, so to speak. Seaman William Thornton has also made a little pair of Dutch shoes, which have likewise reached Tipton without any carriage to pay. He is trying to learn French.
The fourth brother, Private Joseph Thornton, aged 24 (married), has a wife and child living in New Cross Street. He showed his patriotism at an early stage of the war, joining Kitchener's Army in 1914. He had been employed as a shunter at the Tipton Furnaces. He was attached to the 7th South Staffords, and early went to France. He is now at Lichfield, awaiting his discharge as a consequence of having his elbow bone of his right arm blown away. He was in a London hospital, and then at Paignton (Devon), for five months.
The fifth brother, in point of age, is Private Thomas Thornton, age 21, who brought up at Tipton had latterly made his home at Smethwick. He joined the Army under Lord Derby's scheme, seven months ago, becoming a Driver in the Warwickshire Royal Field Artillery, and is expecting to go to Salonica. He was employed at the motor works in Smethwick.
Daniel, the sixth and youngest brother, has made the great sacrifice. He was formerly employed at Messrs. Bailey and Freakley's slag works at Tipton, and was 19 last February (Editor: actually 20). He joined the Sherwood Foresters about 11 months ago, and was only sent to France two months ago, and prior to sailing came home on a brief 48-hour furlough. His Tipton friends received a letter from him saying that he had landed in France. He was killed in action on October 15th, after being about five weeks in France. He was the youngest and smallest of the family. The news of his death was sent home by a comrade, but the official information of his death was not received until Wednesday in last week. He was a very quiet and steady lad. Since his parents' death, he had lived with Mrs Lakin, a married sister, in New Cross Street, and whose husband enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery. Formerly employed at Freakley's, he was latterly a boatman.
Thus ends the record of the six brothers Thornton. Their three married sisters are:- Mrs James Webb of Alexandra Road; Mrs H. Wharton (Smethwick); and Mrs Lakin of New Cross Street. The brothers are first cousins of Mrs Ellis, a well-known resident of Union Street

[mjay]

Can anyone see any other census Marriage or Dod for William please

[kdwoodie]

Not sure if this is correct, I don't have access to 1921

1921
Doris Marjorie Thornton 1920 Tipton, Staffordshire, England Kinlet Cleobury Mortimer Shropshire

Florence May Thornton 1894 Walsall, Staffordshire, England Kinlet Cleobury Mortimer Shropshire

William Thornton 1888 Tipton, Staffordshire, England Kinlet Cleobury Mortimer Shropshire

Births Sep 1920 
Thornton Doris M M Bennett Dudley 6b1940  

Marriages Mar 1920  
Bennett Florence M Thornton Kings N. 6d 106
Thornton William Bennett Kings N. 6d 106  

[mjay]

Thanks for looking Kd
I think William will remain a mystery until 1921 census is more available eh !

So best we move to brick walls

Thanks