Ernest Thorold (1879- 1940)

THE Third son of the Rev. A C Thorold, Dr Ernest Hayford Thorold CB, CBE, OBE, was born and died at at Marston Hall, Marston. He was educated at Highgate School and Queen’s College, Oxford ordained a deacon in 1904 and a priest 1905.

He was curate of Battersea from 1904-06, Chaplain to the Forces at Shorncliffe 1906-08, South Africa 1908-13 and Aldershot 1913-14.

From 1916-21 he was staff officer to the Chaplain-General, War Office; 1921-23 Chaplain Royal Military Chapel ,was with the Rhine Army 1923-24 and Assistant Chaplain-General Western Command 1924-2.

He held a similar role with Southern Command, Salisbury, 1926-30 and Aldershot Command 1930- 31. He was Honorary Chaplain to Bishop of Sarum. 1926-30 and to his Majesty the King George V 1926-35.

He was once described as having “the wisdom of the statesman, the touch of the scholar, and a thorough knowledge of the needs and possibilities of the department over which he presided.” When the 1914-18 war broke out went to France with the First Army Corps and was in the retreat from Mons and the first battle of Ypres.

He was mentioned in despatches twice. Later he undertook administrative work at GHQ and was then recalled from France to be Staff Officer to Bishop Taylor-Smith.

This position he filled with such ability that he was retained in it for three years after hostilities ceased.

Dr Thorold had been Chaplain the Tower of London. 1931 and Chaplain of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem 1932 .

He was one of the speakers at a mass meeting in the State cinema, in April 1939, attended by over 1,000 people for Grantham’s big recruiting week for the Territorial Army. He caused loud laughter when he told the story of an Englishman who asked an American to define the difference between Herr Hitler and Mr. Chamberlain. The American replied: “Mr. Chamberlain takes his weekends in the country and Herr Hitler takes his countries in the weekend.”

He was cremated at Sheffield and the ashes placed in his private chapel at Marston.