John Thurman Leicestershire Battalion

[ShaunJ]

I've been trying to find his name on this image if the memorial
https://www.ww1-yorkshires.org.uk/jpg-files/photos-s/shepshed-leics-03.jpg

Comparing it with the transcriptions, this is it between F W Smith and G Walker. Definitely no mention of a DSO, so the IWM and FindMyPast transcriptions are incorrect.

[AllanUK]

I spent a far bit of time last evening trying to find a DSO for a Thurman but nothing found.

[ShaunJ]

Looking at WW1 pension records for Thurman in Shepshed, there are only two families of deceased soldiers to be found: that of George Albert Thurman (died June 1917), and that of John Nahum Elliott (died May 1915)  whose mother Elizabeth Thurman lived in Shepshed.

It seems likely that "J Thurman" on the memorial is an erroneous rendering of G A Thurman who is otherwise not listed.

https://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/shepshed-war-memorial-name-plea-7711041

[ShaunJ]

Report of the death of G Thurman of Shepshed:

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/502afc01-ee7b-4672-9368-67c612720df1

[*Sandra*]

Report of the death of G Thurman of Shepshed:

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/502afc01-ee7b-4672-9368-67c612720df1

Looking at WW1 pension records for Thurman in Shepshed, there are only two families of deceased soldiers to be found: that of George Albert Thurman (died June 1917), and that of John Nahum Elliott (died May 1915)  whose mother Elizabeth Thurman lived in Shepshed.

It seems likely that "J Thurman" on the memorial is an erroneous rendering of G A Thurman who is otherwise not listed.

https://www.loughboroughecho.net/news/local-news/shepshed-war-memorial-name-plea-7711041

See reply 1 and 5 (with newspaper account)

Although George A Thurman has a different regt no - 240290 ??

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919

Private George Albert Thurman Birth Place   Shepshed, Leics
Death Date   6 Jun 1917 Death Place   France and Flanders
Enlistment Place   Shepshed
Regiment   Leicestershire Regiment
Battalion   1st 5th Battalion
Regimental Number   240290
Type of Casualty   Died of wounds

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ty1/

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01ty2/


Sandra

[ShaunJ]

One might imagine the maker of the memorial calling out to his assistant:

"What's the next one?"

"G A Thurman"

" Right ...J Thurman".....

[AllanUK]

The CWGC states that George Albert Thurman was the son of William and Mary of Sullington Road, Shepshed .... the address matches the newspaper article that ShaunJ posted. The 1911 Census shows George Albert living with his parents, William and Mary Jane, at Sullington Road. Also living there was his elder brother, John Arthur.

The Medal Rolls for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal records that his original 5th Battalion service number was 1837. The 5th Battalion was a Territorial Force, in 1917 all men serving in a Territorial Force were given a new six digit number, George Albert was given 240290. To try and determine when George Albert enlisted, a search was made for a soldier of the 5th Battalion that had a service number close to 1837 and also had a surviving service record. Such a record was found for a soldier called Ernest Whitfield, service number 1834, who enlisted on the 10th March 1914. George Albert, 1837, would have enlisted just after that date. In addition to looking at the BWM & VM medal rolls, I looked at the Medal Rolls for the 1914 and 1914/15 Star Medal ... the entry for George Albert shows that he entered a Theatre of War (France and Flanders) on the 28th February 1915.

Perk014 stated in the original post It lists J Thurman as being part of the Territorials G Company that left Shepshed with the 5th Battalion in 1914 ... the website 'The Long Long Trail' shows the following ... 1/5th Battalion
August 1914 : in Loughborough. Part of Lincoln and Leicester Brigade, North Midland Division. Soon moved to Luton and by November 1914 was at Bishop’s Stortford.
Landed at Le Havre 28 February 1915.

The fact that George Albert enlisted in March 1914 would tie in with the 'G' Company (which was based at Shepshed, with drill stations at Barrowden, Bisbrooke and Ketton) leaving in August 1914.

Further searches of available military records has failed to find a John / John Arthur Thurman.

The 1921 Census records that William and Mary Jane were still living at Sullington Road along with son John Arthur.

As George Arthur died 6/6/1917 does not appear on the war memorial, I would say that an error has been made and that the J Thurman should read G A Thurman.

[tonepad]

G A Thurman 1917 was subsequently added to the Shepshed War Memorial as a separate plaque, but presumably nobody has previously seen the confusion with J Thurman!

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10231209064142780&set=pcb.10162066169196240


Tony

[PERKO14]

The CWGC states that George Albert Thurman was the son of William and Mary of Sullington Road, Shepshed .... the address matches the newspaper article that ShaunJ posted. The 1911 Census shows George Albert living with his parents, William and Mary Jane, at Sullington Road. Also living there was his elder brother, John Arthur.

The Medal Rolls for the British War Medal and the Victory Medal records that his original 5th Battalion service number was 1837. The 5th Battalion was a Territorial Force, in 1917 all men serving in a Territorial Force were given a new six digit number, George Albert was given 240290. To try and determine when George Albert enlisted, a search was made for a soldier of the 5th Battalion that had a service number close to 1837 and also had a surviving service record. Such a record was found for a soldier called Ernest Whitfield, service number 1834, who enlisted on the 10th March 1914. George Albert, 1837, would have enlisted just after that date. In addition to looking at the BWM & VM medal rolls, I looked at the Medal Rolls for the 1914 and 1914/15 Star Medal ... the entry for George Albert shows that he entered a Theatre of War (France and Flanders) on the 28th February 1915.

Perk014 stated in the original post It lists J Thurman as being part of the Territorials G Company that left Shepshed with the 5th Battalion in 1914 ... the website 'The Long Long Trail' shows the following ... 1/5th Battalion
August 1914 : in Loughborough. Part of Lincoln and Leicester Brigade, North Midland Division. Soon moved to Luton and by November 1914 was at Bishop’s Stortford.
Landed at Le Havre 28 February 1915.

The fact that George Albert enlisted in March 1914 would tie in with the 'G' Company (which was based at Shepshed, with drill stations at Barrowden, Bisbrooke and Ketton) leaving in August 1914.

Further searches of available military records has failed to find a John / John Arthur Thurman.

The 1921 Census records that William and Mary Jane were still living at Sullington Road along with son John Arthur.

As George Arthur died 6/6/1917 does not appear on the war memorial, I would say that an error has been made and that the J Thurman should read G A Thurman.

Thank you for this it does seem like the most likely and plausible explanation it seems that for some reason George Arthur went by J and would explain why he was supposedly “left off the memorial” for all those years.   Thanks for your help.