Walter John Thurtle (born in 1864) married Ellen Ann Gowen (born 1866) in 1887. The couple's first child was born in 1890 and was named Walter, but unfortunately the child did not live for an entire year. Because of this, when the second child was born in 1891, he was also called Walter, but was known by his middle name Herbert. Harry was next born in 1893, then the first girl Ethel Dorothy, but she also did not live to see her second birthday. Next came Hubert in 1896, Harold in 1897, Reginald in 1898, Stanley in 1900, and finally Nellie in 1904.
Herbert is now the oldest of the siblings, and he shows that by signing up with the Royal Artillery on 6th April 1910. As seen in other posts, living in rural Norfolk means that you are most likely to be an Agricultural Labourer; some census listings show boys starting at just 12 years old. Herbert likely wanted to get away from this inevitability and go and see the world. He didn't leave the country until 1912.
The next son Harry only joined up shortly after the start of the First World War. He signed up on the 17th August 1914, less than two weeks after the King declared war on the 4th August. He was 21 when he joined the Royal Engineers.
Hubert was the next oldest, and he joined up very quickly after his brother on 3rd September 1914. He joined the 8th Norfolk Regiment and he was 18.
Harold waited until he was 18 to join up, so he enlisted on the 9th October 1915. He joined the 1st Essex Regiment.
Reginald did not have the patience of his brother, as he joined up on 17th November 1914. He was only 16 at the time, but put that he was 19 on the enlistment form (and signed it to say that he solemnly declared that the answers were true!). Does he get found out?
The youngest son, Stanley, did not get to serve in the war although he tried. His enlistment date is the 10th October 1918, rightly so as he was just 17 at the time, but of course Armistice was declared and firing ceased on the 11th November. Stanley stayed in the forces for many years.
At home, Ellen the mother of the brood died in 1913 aged 47 so never got to see any of the horrible experiences of the war. Walter John, the father, did see what his sons went through, and died in 1925 aged 61. Nellie watched all of her brothers leave the family home for their various versions of the front, and then unfortunately died in 1930 aged just 25, without ever having married.
There are more detailed stories of the sons in other posts in this blog. Many service records from World War 1 were destroyed in World War 2, but we are fortunate to have many records for this family.
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