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THORNDIKE Roland 'Richard'

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Position: Outside-right

Died: 3 October 1918

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Roland, sometimes quoted as Richard Thorndike, lived in Cliffe and was employed as a ‘domestic coachman’. Described by the South Eastern Gazette as “for two or three seasons a prominent member of the Gravesend United Football Club, on whose behalf he distinguished himself as a clever wing forward, being speedy and skilful, he always played a sporting game and for that reason was a general favourite”, he played in the Kent Senior Cup Final of 1913 against a Northfleet side that included fellow First World War casualty Edwin Myers.

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A match report from the game, watched by more than 10,000 people, singled him out as “being responsible for some clever work, some good long grounders, putting players in a grand position and himself just missing the net by inches.”

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On 24 August 1914 Thorndike the Gravesend United player agreed to assist West Ham United whenever required for the upcoming 1914/15 season. He went on to play games in the South Eastern League and the Premier Division of the London League. 

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Private Thorndike enlisted in Gravesend in the Royal Fusiliers. He was awarded the Military Medal for “conspicuous bravery in the field” on February 10-11, 1917, in an action near Thiepval on the Somme. His divisional commander noted, “I should like you to know that your gallant action is recognised, and how greatly it is appreciated.” His division’s war diary quoted the action in which Thorndike won his medal as follows: “On February 9th the battalion went into the line again for two days, and had a rather lively time, the artillery of both sides being active. On the night of the 10th, ‘A Company’ of the Fusiliers rushed and captured a German strong point.

“The Germans then concentrated machine-gun and trench-mortar fire on the little garrison. Both the officers and nearly all the NCOs became casualties, and in a strong counter attack the enemy regained the position. Several enlisted men exhibited considerable gallantry during the course of the night’s activities and recommendations for honours were submitted.”

However, Thorndike was not to survive the war. While on leave in March 1918, he married Emily Smith but just five weeks before the guns fells silent, he died of wounds, aged 27 – on October 3, 1918. He had been part of an attack on September 29/30 to support an American push to finally break the German Hindenburg Line. The Fusiliers reached their objective despite shelling and gas attacks, but one can only assume that Thorndike was wounded in the course of this action and died three days later as a result. He is buried at Tinecourt on the Somme and commemorated on the Cliffe war memorial.

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1914-15 South Eastern League

1914-15 London League (Premier Division)