FREDERICK WILLIAM PITT-THORPE

Frederick is not remembered on the war memorial at Christchurch Park.

Registered at birth FREDERICK WILLIAM THORPE PITT.

Born: 9^th November 1909, Gosbeck, Suffolk.

Died: 2^nd December 1944; age: 35.

Residence: 2, St. Helen’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Rank: Corporal; Service Number: T/50213.

Regiment: Royal Army Service Corps.

Grave Reference:

I.F.11.

Rome War Cemetery,

Italy.

Father: William George Thorpe, born 1886, All Saints, Ipswich – died during the First World War, 13^th October 1918, from wounds received at St. Aubert, France.

Mother: Charlotte Eliza Pitt, born July 1887, Great Finborough, Suffolk.

CENSUS

1911   304, Woodbridge Road, Ipswich.

Frederick was 18 months old and a Boarder at the home of the Waspe family.

Robert Waspe, 26, a Platelayer – Great Eastern Railway, born Witnesham, Suffolk.

Rose Wiggins, 22, born Ipswich.

1921   34, Newton Street, Ipswich.

Frederick was 11 years and 7 months old. He attended School and lived with his widowed mother and brothers.

Charlotte Thorpe, 33 years & 11 months old, Home Duties.

Robert George Thorpe, 8 years & 5 months old, at School, born Ipswich.

Bertram Charles Thorpe, 6 years & 8 months old, at School, born Ipswich.

In 1931, in Ipswich, Frederick married Gladys Evelyn West Pulman, born January 1911, Leyton, Essex – daughter of Frederick & Louisa Rachel Pulman (nee Cudmore).

Gladys and Frederick had four children:

William John Thorpe, born November 1932, Bramford, Suffolk.

Peter Michael Thorpe, born October 1934, Bramford.

Anthony Robert Thorpe, born 1939, Ipswich.

Heather Ann Thorpe, born February 1943, Ipswich.

ENGLAND & WALES REGISTER 1939

Frederick’s family were living at their family home – 2, St. Helen’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Gladys, unpaid Domestic Duties.

William, at School.

Peter.

In 1945, Ipswich, Gladys Thorpe married John Perry Heckard, born December 1920, Liverpool, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

On the 5^th June 1946, 35 year old Gladys, and her children disembarked at the Port of New York, U.S.A.

William, 13, a school boy – could read and write.

Peter, 11, a school boy – could read and write.

Anthony, 6, a school boy – could read and write.

Heather, 3.

The Heckard/Thorpe family had had their paperwork issued on the 2^nd April 1946, before they sailed from the Port of Southampton, 27^th May 1946, aboard the U.S.A.T. ‘Willard A. Holbrook, to join John Heckard, a Corporal, of the U.S.A. Army Air Corps, and soon to be an honourably discharged veteran.