Pte 29643 Elimelech Thornton

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Huts Cem, Dickebusch
  Panel Ref: I.A.10

Elimelech Thornton was born on the 01st January 1894 in Liverpool, the son of Elimelech Thornton and his wife Mary Adelaide (nee Nicholson) who were married on 27th October 1892 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. He was at least the fourth generation of sons to bear this unusual name, which is the name of Naomi’s husband in the Old Testament. He was baptised on the 26th February 1894 at St Mary's Church, Walton.

The 1901 shows the 7 year old Elimelech living at 8 Wyndham Street, Walton, Liverpool. His father is 27 years old, born in Liverpool, and is working as a coppersmith. His mother is 27 and had been born in Birkdale. She is at home looking after Elimelech and his brother Edward aged 8, sister Martha 6 and 2 year old Elizabeth. Also living with the family is Elimelech senior’s widowed mother Elizabeth aged 67 and an 11 year old niece also called Elizabeth.

The family have moved to 61 Stuart Road, Walton by the time of the 1911 census. The census records that his parents have been married for 19 years and that Mary Adelaide has borne seven children, two of which have died. All five surviving children are living at home: Edward is now working as a stockbroker’s clerk, Elimelech as a fruit merchant’s clerk and Martha as confectioners apprentice, Elizabeth is at school as is another son , 8 year old Francis. Elizabeth Thornton now aged 77 is recorded as head of the family.

Elimelech enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 29643 when he died of wounds, aged 23, on the 31st July 1917, the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele. 

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.   

Elimelech now lies in Huts Cemetery, Dikebusch, Belgium, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH”

This cemetery takes its name from a line of huts strung along the road from Dickebusch (now Dikkebus) to Brandhoek, which were used by field ambulances during the 1917 Allied offensive on this front. Plots I to X and XII to XIV were filled between July and November 1917. Plots XV and XI followed. Nearly two-thirds of the burials are of gunners as many artillery positions existed nearby.

The cemetery was closed in April 1918 when the German advance (the Battle of the Lys) brought the front line very close. The advance was finally halted on the eastern side of the village, following fierce fighting at Dickebusch Lake, on 8 May.

There are now 1,094 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He is also commemorated on the War Memorial at St Mary’s C. of E. Church Walton (Young Men’s bible Class).

A notice was taken out in the Liverpool Echo by his parents on the first anniversary of his death on 31st July 1918:

Thornton – In loving memory of our dear son Private E. (Lim) Thornton K.L.R. who dies of wounds July 31st 1917 – Never forgotten by his loving Mother, Father and sisters. 61 Stuart Road.

He was also remembered in the same edition of the Liverpool Echo Wednesday 31st July 1918

We currently have no further information on Elimelech Thornton, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.