South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 31 March 1945

Gallantry in Italy

Mexborough Man Wins M.M.

L/Cpl. Albert Bateson Thorpe, Royal Signals, whose parents live at 34, Church Street, Mexborough, and whose wife lives at 1, Spalton Road, Parkgate, has been awarded the Military Medal for services on the Italian front.

The citation states: “‘L/Cpl. Thorpe was N.C.O. in charge of the battalion rear link wireless set attached to the Leicesters during the battle for the Gothic Line. From the commencement of the action, on Aug. 25th, his detachment was subjected to continuous fire, but his set was always in communication with Brigade headquarters.

On the morning of Sept. 6th his second operator became a casualty and the vehicle in which the set was carried was destroyed.

“Cpl. Thorpe had, therefore, transferred the set from the vehicle, and was working it from a house, which received several direct hits. On two occasions L/Cpl. Thorpe and his set were blown across the room by shell blast, but he continued to carry on.”

The citation concludes: “His magnificent devotion to duty and cool nerve resulted in a vital communication link being kept open at a critical stage in the battle.”

L/Cpl. Thorpe was educated at Mexborough Secondary School. He won a scholarship to St. Luke’s e, Exeter, and subsequently a scholarship from there to London University, where he gained his BA. degree. Before joining up in May, 1940, L/Cpl. Thorpe had been a teacher for three years at Rawmarsh Modern School.