George THORNE died 11 Jan 1878 aged 49 yrs Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, Pensioner 55th Regiment. Informant: X The Mark of Thomas THORNE, Brother, present at the death, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, bur 13 Jan 1878 [Registration District of Yeovil, Sub-district of Martock, County of Somerset, England R/N 275, DYA 165665] (certificate obtained by Andrea Dashti)

Army Service Record [Six documents from The National Archives Ref W097/2121 provided by Andrea Dashti]
Pte No 27 George THORNE enlisted in the British Army at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, County of Hants, on 2 Sep 1857 aged 25 yrs. His birthplace was Stoke under Ham, near Yeovil, Somerset, England and attested for the 55th Regiment. Height: 5 ft 6 3/4 ins, Chest: 38 1/2 ins, Hair: Dark Brown, Complexion: Sallow, Eyes: Hazel, Pulse: 84 beats, Respiration: 22 inspirations, Muscular Development: Strong. Vaccinated as a child, mark on left arm. General Remarks on his Habits and Conduct in the Service, Temperance, &c.: Good. Temperate. Trade: Labourer.
Date of Arrival at Station Garrison, Barrack:
1857 Sep - Isle of Wight
1858 Feb - Dublin
1859 Jun - Cumagh Camp
1860 Jun - Aldershot
1861 May - Jersey
1862 May 31 - Portsmouth

Medical History (continued)
1863 Dec 13 - Ship Rafal Cochin
1864 - Chinsurah (?) Comarh (?)
1864 Apr 13 - Hazai (?) Isle of Wight
1864 Dec 13 - at Lucknow, Ophthalmia
1865 Oct 30 to 1865 Nov 5 - Regimental Hospital Lucknow - Ophthalmia
1866 Feb 14 - Depot Hospital, Lucknow
1867 Feb 25 to 1867 Mar 4 - Diarrhoea
1868 Jun 11 to 1868 Jun 18 - Febrile, Treatment: Quinine, Circumstances in or by which Disease was induced: climate.
1869 Feb 23 - pesaceinated, result: perfect. (no idea what this means)
1869 Mar 3 - Roy_(?) Bareilly (city 252k N of state capital Lucknow and 250k E of national capital Delhi)
1869 Sep 19 to 1869 Sep 26 - Ophthalmia
1872 Jan 24 to 1872 Jan 31 at Peshawar, contusion of back, accident
1872 May 23 to 1872 May 27 - Conjunctivitis
1872 Jul 1 to 1872 Jul 8 - Febricula, climate
1872 Sep 5 to 1872 Sep 11 - Conjunctivitis, local atmospheric influence
1872 Oct 1 to 1872 Oct 7 -Conjunctivitis, climate
1873 Feb 24 to 1873 Mar 3 - Rheumatism, cold
1873 Aug 6 at Chkrat (?) (maybe Chakrata - a cantonment of British Indian Army, established in 1866 by Colonel Hume of the 55th Regiment, British Indian Army, troops and officers first occupied the cantonment in April 1869, Wikipedia)
1873 Aug 13 to 1873 Aug 19 - Ague, Quinine, climate
1874 Feb 20 - at Delhi
1875 Jul 5 to 1875 Jul 9 - Ague, Quinine, climate
1876 Mar 2 - at Aden
1876 Apr 28 - Date of Recommendation, Regimental Number 27 Pte George Thorn_, 55th Regiment of Foot [Ref WO 102/6, p25, provided by Andrea Dashti]
1877 Mar 20 - at Gosport
1877 Jun 13 to 1877 Jun 23, Impaired Vision
1877 Sep 19 - Aneurism abdominal aorta, Defective Vision, Astringents and Rest
1877 Oct 14 - at Harlar (?) Aneurism of abdominal aorta, Defective Vision, Result of Climate and Military Service. Disability: Permanent. Will not be able to contribute to his own support. Not aggravated by Intemperance or other vices.
1877 Oct 18 - at Portsmouth, Principal Medical Officer concurred in the opinion that No. 27 Pte Thorne was unfit for further Service.
1877 Nov 17 at Horse Guards, The Discharge of the above named man is approved by HRH the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief

Detailed Statement of the Services of George Thorne: dated 31 Oct 1877
Good Conduct Pay at 1d from 3 Sep 1860
Good Conduct Pay at 2d from 3 Sep 1865
Re-engaged at Lucknow (India) for 11 years, 158 days as a Private from 29 Mar 1867.
Good Conduct Pay at 3d from 2 Jun 1870
Good Conduct Pay at 4d from 3 Sep 1873
Granted a Silver Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct with Gratuity of £5.

A document dated 20 Nov 1877 records the proceedings of a Regimental Board held at Gosport on 31 Oct 1877. No. 27 Pte George Thorne's discharge was proposed after army service amounting to 20 yrs and 59 days, during which he served abroad in the East Indies for 13 and 4/12 yrs. "His conduct has been "Very Good". He is in possession of four Good Conduct Badges, and of a Silver Medal for Long Service & Good Conduct, with Gratuity of £5. A Medal clasp for Victory. His name has never been entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. He has never been tried by Court Martial. Not in possession of a School Certificate."
Pte George Thorne aged 42 6/12 yrs on 12 Nov 1877 made his mark and stated that his intended place of residence was Gosport.

Known children of George THORNE and Susan PALMER:

1. William Palmer THORNE born 2 Nov 1856 at East Stoke (also known as Stoke Under Ham and Stoke-sub-Hamdon), Somerset, England s/o George THORNE, farm labourer, and Susan THORNE formerly PALMER. Birth was registered 20 Nov 1856 by X The Mark of Susan THORNE, Mother, East Stoke [Registration District of Yeovil, Sub-district of Martock R/N 465] (AD)

THORNE watch (shown at left) was presented to Colour Sergeant William THORNE, 55th Regiment in 1877. He turned 21yrs of age on the 2nd of November and was married on the 2nd of December. His father George THORNE had recently been discharged from the British Army on 31 October 1877. It is thought that George gave the watch to his son William as a coming-of-age and/or wedding present. George THORNE died early the following year and his son William would treasure this watch for the next 60 years until his death in 1937. It has been kept in good working order and has the original key.

1877 Marriage Certificate
William THORNE, of Full Age, Bachelor, Colour Sergeant, 55th Regiment, of Gosport Barracks, s/o George THORNE, Pensioner, married on 2 Dec 1877 Georgina Rachel GILLARD aged 20 yrs, Spinster, of Audrey House, High Street, d/o William Henry GILLARD, Sawyer.
Marriage was performed by Charles TANNER, Curate, after Banns, in the Parish Church of Saint Matthew, Gosport, County of Southampton, in the presence of William Henry GILLARD and Jemima Anne GILLARD [Registration District of Alverstoke R/N 299, TE 864561] (AD)

Captain William Palmer THORNE 1856-1937
William Palmer THORNE m1. 1877 Rachel GILLARD
William Palmer THORNE m2. 1886 Susannah AVERY

(Gap 1857-1869 unknown children)

2. Rhoda THORNE born 30 Dec 1870, chr 15 Jan 1871 Chukrata by Sd Joseph Spear, Chaplain of Chukrata. Parents: George and Susan THORNE, Rank of Father: Private [No. 5, SA 061620] (AD)

3. George THORNE born 8 Mar 1873, chr 20 Mar 1873 Peshawur, West Bengal, India by Sd J W ADAMS, C. Chaplain. Rank of Father: Private. Signature of Adjutant illegible. [No. 77, F99/4385/X] (certificate obtained by Joyce Mason)
In the 1881 British Census George THORNE was living with his brother William Palmer THORNE and his wife Georgina at Shorncliffe Army Camp, Elham, Kent, England.
George THORNE m 15 Feb 1900 Sarah Ellen COWEN b Carlisle (known as Nellie)

4. Beatrice Mary THORNE born 24 Jul 1874, chr 10 Aug 1874 Delhi by Sd A Horsburgh, Chaplain of Delhi, Signature of Adjutant illegible. Parents: George and Susan THORNE, Rank of Father: Private [No. 101, SA 061618] (AD)