Pte Richard Matthew Thorpe.

Chambieres French National Cemetery. Metz.

Richard was born in the September quarter of 1898 at Carlin How.
His father Richard Pickles Thorpe, also known as "Pretty Cap", was a mechanic in the Cleveland mines and was a founder member of the White Rose Sword Dancers. His mother was Emma Eliza Leeks and they were living at Fogga when they married 25th December 1883.
Their family history, also says that this was the last wedding at the old Skelton Church.
[Photograph of Richard and family information kindly contributed by his Great Niece, Dorothy Harris of Saltburn by Sea.]
Richard died as a Prisoner of War and was most likely wounded and captured when the 4th Yorks Battalion were decimated by the German offensive on the River Aisne of 27th May 1918. He is buried in the German extension of the Chambieres French National Cemetery, Metz.