Locket with picture

photograph of Walter Edward Thorp Merchant Navy photograph of Walter Edward Thorp at the Bisley ranges || Born Chelsea March 1895. 1st Class wireless Telegraphist for Marconi. Served in merchant Navy, round the world 3 times supplying the army during 1914 - 1918 on the SS Messaba, the last ship to signal the Titanic. His ship was torpedoed during WW1. Serving aboard the Cawdor Castle - white star line - the ship was torpedoed with Walter onboard. Walter sent the SOS signal. Later on the City of Corinth they were torpedoed by a German U Boat. W/O sent out the SOS. A Colleague took a photo of ship sinking. At one time Walter spent time floating on wreckage with his talking budgie. He was rescued and returned home and considered the budgie was a means of staying alive, keeping both alive for the 8 hours in water before rescue in freezing rough seas. He left again for the sea, but the budgie stayed in Chelsea with his mother. The budgie never talked again until Walter returned. Another of his rescues may have been by an American ship. He was suffering from hypothermia when rescued. Walter was a great shot, shooting at the Bisley ranges. Whilst cleaning his revolver below decks on a ship after one of his rescues, the revolver discharged and the bullet went through the ceiling above and up through the bass drum of a band playing above. Is this how you repay us? was the question from the crew of the rescue ship!

There were four Hanton brothers altogether that joined up for the war. Thomas was the eldest, then Patrick, then Robert, and the youngest was my grandfather, Peter. Their parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Hanton of Emmet Place, Wexford. Patrick and Robert were in the navy and Peter and Thomas were in the army. Thomas served in France and Robert served as a Stoker on board the HMS Prince Edward, a packet steamer called into service during the war as a net-layer to protect ports against submarines. Patrick was also a Stoker in the Royal Naval Reserve, Anson Battalion and died in Malta on 2 January 1916 as a result of injuries received during operations in the Dardenelles. My grandfather, Peter was injured in the war but recovered and was sent back. He lived to a good old age. I got Patrick's and Peter's medals when my father died but the fact that family members had fought in WW1 was not really talked about. || Newspaper article 'Sons of the Empire.; Patrick's memory card; Patrick's medals; Peter's medals || || Western Front || Other || Thomas, Patrick, Robert and Peter Hanton || The four Hanton brothers || || Patrick Hanton || Official document || Battalion memorial card for Patrick Hanton || || Patrick Hanton, 1914 Star || Medal || Patrick Hanton, Star Medal || || Naval Warfare || Patrick Hanton, 1914 Star, reverse || Patrick Hanton, Star Medal, reverse || Medal || || Patrick Hanton, British War Medal || Medal || Naval Warfare || || Patrick Hanton British War Medal, reverse || Patrick Hanton, British War Medal, reverse || Naval Warfare || Medal || || Patrick Hanton, Victory Medal || Naval Warfare || Medal || || Medal || Naval Warfare || Patrick Hanton, Victory Medal, reverse || || Peter Hanton, 1914-15 Star || Peter Hanton, Star Medal || Medal || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, 1914-15 Star, reverse || Medal || Peter Hanton, Star Medal, reverse || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, British War Medal || Medal || Peter Hanton, lBritish War Medal || Western Front || || Peter Hanton, British War Medal, reverse || Medal || Western Front || || Western Front || Peter Hanton, Victory Medal || Medal || || Back || Peter Hanton, Victory Medal, reverse || Medal || Western Front