Thorne, Arthur

Description

Arthur Thorne was born on January 16, 1915, in Massachusetts to Ethel Mary Cheney, age 36, and Samuel Binkerhoff Thorne. He had five brothers and one sister. The family lived at 472 Boston Post Road, which is near the intersection of Boston Post Road and Oakland Beach Avenue. At the turn of the century, the Thorne Estate as it was called extended from the above mentioned intersection to Disbrow Park. Before the out break of war, Arthur attended Deerfield Academy and was a graduate of the McBurney School. He was working with Thormac Chemical Company, Inc in NYC and was a member of the American Yacht Club.

Arthur married Miss Marie Loescher November 16, 1940. The ceremony was performed in the
open air chapel at Camp Mohican,
Lake George, by the Reverend George
K. McNaught, of East Hampton, Conn.,
former rector of All Saints’ Church,
Harrison. A wedding break
fast was served in the mess hall. The couple would live in Rye and start breeding Boxers and entering them in dog shows along the east coast.

Arthur enlisted August 26, 1943 and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served as a SK-2/C. In the U.S. Navy, “SK 2/C” refers to a Storekeeper Second Class, a petty officer rank (E-5) handling supply, finance, and logistics. According to Navy Muster Rolls, Arthur spent most of his war stationed in Oran, Algiers, his service number was 814 73 96.

Following the Allied invasion of North Africa (Operation Torch) in November 1942, Oran was developed into a critical operating, staging, and supply base for subsequent amphibious operations in the Mediterranean, including Sicily and Italy.

The U.S. Navy established a significant supply depot as a unit of the Naval Operating Base, primarily for fleet maintenance and supply. Navy Seabee construction battalions helped repair and build the extensive facilities, including Quonset huts for storage.

Arthur’s younger brother James Neale Thorne was killed 9/10/1944 during air assaults over Holland in a prelude to what would become Operation Market Garden.

Arthur was honorably discharged February 10, 1946. He returned to Rye and he and his wife eventually fell in love with breeding harness race horses. Arthur was self-employed as a harness racing driver, trainer and owner for 30 years.

He was owner of Penney Creek Farms in Greenwood Delaware. Arthur and family would spend the next three decades on their farm, which spanned over 70 acres and at it’s high point the Thorne’s had over 80 horses in training.

Arthur Thorne, 66, of near Greenwood, died Tuesday December 15, 1981 in Milford Memorial Hospital after a long illness.

At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Marian; a daughter, Elizabeth Kenn of Harrington; two brothers, Samuel Thorne of New York City and Ward Thorne of Rock Hall, Md.; a sister, Emmaline Brawley of Winston-Salem, N.C., and a grandchild.

He was buried in Keene, New York.

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89086535/obituary-…