Thorburn, Walter

Captain Walter Ernest Thorburn

Royal Scots

1919 - January 22.

A KEEN sense of regret passed over the community of Peebles when it became known that Captain WALTER ERNEST THORBURN, 8th Royal Scots, had passed away, at his residence, Hay Lodge, Peebles, as the result of an illness contracted while on active service in France.

When Captain Thorburn, who was held in high esteem by all who knew him, learned that his illness could only have a fatal issue, he desired that he might be removed from the private nursing home in

London, where he was under treatment, to his home in Peebles. This desire was acceded to, and the patient arrived home on the Friday before his death, which took place on Wednesday, 22nd January 1919.

Captain Thorburn, who was 44 years of age, was the eldest son of the late Sir Walter Thorburn of Glenbreck, Tweedsmuir, and the late Lady Thorburn, and was a member of the firm of Walter

Thorburn & Bros., Ltd., tweed manufacturers, Damdale and Tweedside Mills, Peebles.

In 1893 the deceased joined the Peebles Volunteers, in which he held a commission, and transferred his activities to the Territorial Force when that system came into operation. On the outbreak of war, at which time he held the rank of Major, he was mobilised with the 8th Battalion The Royal Scots, and proceeded with the Battalion to Haddington. In 1916, when Peebles was a centre of military activity, he was appointed to the Brigade Headquarters Staff, holding the rank of Brigade-Major. In September 1916, as Brigade-Major, he made a short tour of inspection to the Expeditionary Force in France, and whilst there took the opportunity to pay his former colleagues (the 8th Royal Scots), a visit at Bouzincourt, a small village near Albert.  During the summer of 1917 he relinquished his staff appointment, and joined the 1/8th Royal Scots in France while the battle of Arras was at its height. Reverting to the rank of Captain, he was posted for duty to "C" Company — generally referred to as Peebles Company.  While at Ypres the same year, Captain Thorburn was appointed to a position on the staff of the 8th Corps, which he held until he contracted his illness a few months before his death.

Captain Thorburn was a member of Peebles Parish Council, but tendered his resignation owing to military duties. At the request of the Council, however, he withdrew his resignation. He was also

a member of Peebles Freemasons, Lodge Kilwinning, No. 24. In all branches of sport he took a keen and enthusiastic interest, and was a playing member of Peebles County Cricket Club.

In February 1905, Captain Thorburn married Miss Marjory Sneddon Robson, second daughter of Dr and Mrs E. Shedden Robson, Durham, and was survived by his widow and young family — Shedden, Anthony, and Elizabeth.

No one was more respected by the local soldiers than Captain Thorburn. He possessed a magnetic personality, was always affable, and never made a "ranker" feel uneasy, being ready to listen at all

times to a grievance, either real or imaginary. When acting as Quartermaster of the 8th Royal Scots (Territorials), the interests of the men were always first, and in that capacity he earned the goodwill of all, and carried on successfully with the Battalion when it was mobilised in 1914 under war conditions. However, it was when he was attached to the 1/8th Royal Scots for duty on active service in France that Captain Thorburn really showed his good qualities.

It is peculiar how a man's true mettle shows up in times of stress or danger. Captain Thorburn came through the trial, needless to say, for the better. He had always a cheery word for a Peeblean.

In fact, "Peebles" seemed to be written across all Tweeddale faces, as he greeted them, one and all, in a genial and hail-fellow-well-met manner. At Arras, where he first joined the Battalion, he had

something to say to all—"Still sticking it" — always using the soldiers' field language, which won him many admirers. Mayhap if he had noticed the folks of the man with whom he was conversing before

leaving for France, he would inform the soldier that they were quite well: ordinary everyday talk, but it gained many friends.  Among his brother officers he was the personification of cheerfulness, and never, mid all the mud and rain, did his bright spirits desert him. In Ypres, in what was known as Tank Wood, the Battalion got unusually heavily shelled every morning for nearly a fortnight. One "reveille" especially, caused through hostile shelling, was responsible for all leaving camp at less than a moment's notice, and there, further up the road, 'midst the "crump" of the shells bursting on the empty camp, was Captain Thorburn, in night attire, with the zest of a born raconteur telling how he had been awakened by the falling of a tree, which had been cut in two by a shell, on his bivouac. A corps appointment saw him transferred from the 1/8th Battalion The Royal Scots, and so he passed out of the ken of the Peebles boys, but he was always remembered with affection.

A very old friend wrote 'The sorrow and the affectionate tribute to his memory, shown in the crowded Church and at the side of his grave, were evidence of the regard in which he was held, but the loss of such a man in these times, when class draws away from class, is irreparable. He inherited from his father the geniality and the kindly interest which made him the friend of every man in every walk of life, and all of us alike sorrow for his death. He had a brave outlook on life, and his courage never failed him to the end. He was a sportsman through and through. As a boy at Blair Lodge, he was a runner, a gymnast, and a football player. Later, owing to an accident to his arm, his proficiency at games was impaired, but he was always ready to take his part in any form of sport. He was a keen shot, and loved fishing, and the last talks we had were of old days on Tweed, and Quair, and Manor. He was an inimitable raconteur, and his slight stammer served to accentuate the point of his good stories.

We have lost many friends during these sad years, but none more universally regretted nor more sincerely mourned."

He that dies shall not die lonely,

Many a one hath gone before;

He that lives shall bear no burden

Heavier than the life they bore.

Nothing ancient is their story,

E'en but yesterday they bled,

Youngest they of earth's Beloved,

Last of all the valiant Dead.

In the grave where tyrants thrust them,

Lies their labour and their pain,

But undying from their sorrow

Springeth up the hope again.

Mourn not, therefore, nor lament it,

That the world outlives their life;

Voice and Vision yet they gave us,

Making strong our hands for strife.

Some had name, and fame, and honour,

Learned they were, and wise and strong:

Some were nameless, poor, unlettered,

Weak in all but grief and wrong.

Named and nameless, all live in us;

One and all they lead us yet

Every pain to count for nothing,

Every sorrow to forget.

Source: The Book of Remembrance for Tweeddale – Peebles Book 2 - Page 322 and 325

Name: THORBURN, WALTER ERNEST 

Initials: W E

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Captain

Regiment/Service: Royal Scots

Unit Text: 8th Bn.

Date of Death: 22/01/1919

Awards: T D

Additional information: Eldest son of the late Sir Walter Thorburn and of Lady Thorburn; husband of Marjory Shedden Thorburn, of Hay Lodge, Peebles.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: 311.

Cemetery: PEEBLES CEMETERY