Death of a war hero?

[Guest]

HT Thornton enlisted into the Territorials (Royal West Kent Regt) at the outbreak of war. He never served abroad. In December 1915 he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant at Bromley Admin Centre. He died at home on 25 Jan 1916. He was buried with full military honours, is listed on the Beckenham war memorial, appears on the CWGC database  and his family received a plaque & scroll. Would he have been entitled to all these if he just died of natural causes?

[RaySearching]

As he died whilst a serving soldier 

The simple answer is Yes

 

His forenames were Hedley Thomas

 

Regards Ray

 

Edit died of influenza

Edited 12 November , 2016 by RaySearching

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply and helpful newspaper article. I was reluctant to pay for a death certificate which wouldn't have answered my query. His father also paid for the restoration of the church lychgate as a memorial to him and his young brother Stanley (killed in France age 19).

[RaySearching]

Linked from  IWM

 

 

 

St. George's Churchyard, Beckenham

 

Regards Ray

 

 

 

[RaySearching]

Prior to receiving his commission Hedley  served as Sgt 2222 5th Bn West Kent Regiment

The following cutting indicates that he was a pre war regular soldier

 

Probate record

 

Full photo of family gravestone plot

 

Find a grave HERE