CHARLES ROBERT THORPE
From May through to September 2026, Andrew will be fulfilling his dream to hike the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats! You are all warmly invited to follow Andrew’s epic journey on his Facebook page, “Andrew Beal LEJOG” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577588795730
As Andrew hikes the 1,300+ miles, he will raise funds for the Ipswich War Memorial Project to help finance our future exhibitions and research of the brave Ipswich men and women who lost their lives in conflict. If you would like to make a small donation, please click on the link: https://gofund.me/5d4a50570
Thank you for your love and support. Andrew & Helen – I.W.M.P.
Photographs courtesy of Susan and Charles’s niece, Shirley.
Born: 28th August 1889, Swilland, Suffolk.
Baptised on the 13th October 1889, at St. Mary’s Church, Swilland – family home at Swilland.
Died: 28th April 1917; age 28; KiA.
Occupation: Grocer for Mr. Joseph Cooper Squirrell, a Grocer, of 17, Upper Brook Street, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 30844
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Memorial Reference:
Bay 4.
Pas de Calais,
France.
CENSUS
1891 13, Kemp Street, Ipswich.
Charles and his brother on the cart (quite possibly John, who was known as Jack in the family)
Charles was a year old and living with his parents & maternal aunt.
Walter Thorpe, 25, a Carter – Foundry, born Swilland, Suffolk.
Eliza Emma Thorpe (nee Vince), 28, born Burstall, Suffolk.
Emma Vince, 13, born Burstall.
1 visitor.
1901 13, Kemp Street, Ipswich.
Charles was 11 years old and living with his parents & brothers.
Walter, 36, a Coal Carter.
Eliza, 38.
John Thorpe, 8, born 13, Kemp Street, Ipswich.
Frederick Walter Thorpe, 3, born 13, Kemp Street, Ipswich.
1911 13, Kemp Street, Ipswich.
Charles was 21 years old, a Grocer’s Assistant. He was living with his parents & siblings.
Walter, 46, a Coal Carter.
Eliza, 48.
John, 18, a Groom.
Frederick, 13, an Errand Boy – Coachbuilders.
Kate Thorpe, 8, born 13, Kemp Street, Ipswich.
The original photographs belonged to Charles’s niece, Shirley, who was kind enough to share these images for this Memorial project.
On the 1st August 1915, at St. mary’s Church, Flowton, Suffolk, 25 year old Charles, a grocer, of St. Margaret’s, Ipswich, married 25 year old Jessie Ellen Steward, born November 1890, Flowton – daughter of Alfred Steward, a milkman – own account, and Ellen Steward (nee Ford), of Flowton.
Soldiers’ Effects to Jessie E. Thorpe – widow.
On the 13th April 1920, 30 year old Jessie Thorpe, a widow who could read and write, arrived at the Port of New York. She had departed from the Port of Southampton on the 13th March 1920, and sailed aboard the S.S.‘New York’ of the American Line. She intended New York to be her future permanent residence. Jessie’s father, Mr. Alfred Steward, of Flowton, Suffolk, was her Next of Kin.
On the 20th March 1921, 32 year old Jessie Thorpe arrived at the Port of Southampton. She had sailed 2nd Class aboard the S.S. Imperator, of the Cunard Steamship Company Ltd., from New York. She intended England to be her future permanent residence.
Picture from the Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury newspaper, 1918, of Charles, John & Frederick Thorpe.
THREE IPSWICH BROTHERS
The above are the photographs of the three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Thorpe, of 153, Princess Street, Ipswich. The first is Pte. Charles Robert Thorpe, of the Suffolk Regiment, was killed on April 28th, 1917, in fighting near Arras. He was formerly with Mr. J. C. Squirrell, grocer, Brook Street. No. 2 is A.B. Jack Thorpe, of the R.N.D., formerly in the Suffolk Regiment. He has served 12 months in France and has been gassed twice and wounded once. Before the war, he was with the Ipswich Co-operative Society. The third is Sapper Frederick Walter Thorpe, Royal Engineers, who is still in France and has served 18 months.
Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion
Battle of Arleux (28–29 April 1917)
An 8-mile front from British and Canadian troops of the 12th Division, making the main thrust between Scarp and Monchy, France. At 04:45 hrs, the battalion went over the top, passing through the 5th Royal Berkshire Regiment, who had just captured “Bayonet Trench” and a section of “Riffle Trench”
They immediately came under a most devastating machine gun fire from Roeux on the north side of the river, not yet taken and suffered very heavy losses. Several men managed to reach their first objective, but were unable to move any further forward.
All the officers were killed or wounded except two. The survivors made their way back to the line under the cover of darkness. By 01:00hrs of the 29th, the battalion had been reduced to 190 men. (from 350.)
The 11th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, as part of the 101st Brigade, formed an attack on Roeux chemical works on the Northern edge of the town, just south of the railway line. At 4:27 on the 28th of April 1917, the attack by the 11th began. The troops pushed forward but came under heavy machinegun fire, which drove the men back. A small group pushed on into the quarry on the eastern edge of the chemical works, being unsupported. At nightfall, they returned with 3 prisoners. The opening barrage had failed to destroy the machine gun posts and the enemy trenches, causing the attack to fail. The enemy counter-attacked from Roeux. They were taking Mount Pleasant wood, part of the Ceylon trench, at 9:45 a.m. The Battalion took over 300 casualties.
3 Comments
The original photographs belong to Charles’s Niece, Shirley who lent them to me in order that they could be used for this Memorial.
all updated thank you.