John Thornton (athlete)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 6 June 1911 Greasley, England |
| Died | 18 August 1944 (aged 33) Normandy, German-occupied France |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field |
Event | 110 metres hurdles |
| Club | University of Cambridge AC Achilles Club |
John St. Ledger Thornton (6 June 1911 – 18 August 1944) was a British hurdler who competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics.[1] He was killed in action during World War II.[2]
Biography
[edit]Thornton was educated at Charterhouse School and Pembroke College, Cambridge.[3]
Thornton finished second behind Don Finlay in the 120 yards hurdles event at the 1936 AAA Championships.[4][5][6]
One month later, he was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin, where he competed in the men's 110 metres hurdles competition.[7]
Thornton finished second behind Don Finlay again in the 120 yards event at the 1937 AAA Championships[8][9] and the 1938 AAA Championships.[10][11]
Thornton served as a major in the Seaforth Highlanders during the Second World War.[12] He served at El Alamein and in the Sicily Campaign, and was killed in action on 18 August 1944 during the Battle of Normandy.[1] Thornton is buried at Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery.[12]
References
[edit]- 1 2 Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "John Thornton Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ↑ "Olympians Who Were Killed or Missing in Action or Died as a Result of War". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
- ↑ "Athletics". Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette. 3 December 1926. Retrieved 18 April 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "AAA Championships begin". Western Mail. 11 July 1936. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Wooderson wins again". Daily Herald. 13 July 1936. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ↑ "Biographical Information". Olympedia. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
- ↑ "The Athletic Championships". Liverpool Daily Post. 17 July 1937. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Six records go by the board at White City". Evening Despatch. 19 July 1937. Retrieved 18 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "Italian wins six-mile title". Western Mail. 16 July 1938. Retrieved 19 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ↑ "AAA Championships". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 18 July 1938. Retrieved 19 January 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- 1 2 "Casualty Details: Thronton, John St. Ledger". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
External links
[edit]- John Thornton at World Athletics
- John Thornton at Tilastopaja (registration required)
- John Thornton at Olympedia
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- 1911 births
- 1944 deaths
- Military personnel from Nottinghamshire
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1936 Summer Olympics
- British men hurdlers
- Olympic athletes for Great Britain
- People from Nottinghamshire (before 1974)
- Sportspeople from Nottinghamshire
- British Army personnel killed in World War II
- Seaforth Highlanders officers
- Burials at Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery
- English men hurdlers
- 20th-century English sportsmen
- Olympic men hurdlers
- English hurdler stubs