Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Jonathan Thorpe, a general dealer, born 1853 in Uppingham, Rutland and his wife Ellen Thorpe (nee Cobley, married in the 4th quarter of 1873 in the Uppingham, Rutland district), a laundress, born 1851 in Seaton, Rutland. Leonard Cobley was born in the 2nd quarter of 1892 in Uppingham, his siblings were, Ellen Annie, a laundress, born 1878, Margaret, a general domestic servant, born 1885, Edith Mary Cicely, born 1889, Daniel William, a farm stockman, born 1881, George Aled, a blacksmith, born 1883, Charles Philip an ironmonger’s shop errand boy, born 1886, Frank, born 1890 and James Sidney, born 1896, all his siblings were born in Uppingham, in March 1901 the family home was at The Old Brickyards, Ayston Road, Uppingham. In April 1911 Leonard was employed as a farm worker and was residing in the family home at Ayston Road, Uppingham, together with his father a general dealer and small holder, his mother and siblings, George, a farm worker, Frank, a grocer’s assistant, James, a grocer’s errand boy and Edith, a laundress. Leonard also had two other brothers, Amos William M., born 1874 and John Thomas, born 1876, both were born in Uppingham and also a half blood brother, Robert William Cobley, born 1870 in Seaton. Leonard first entered the theatre of war in France on the 4th September 1915, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. His eldest sister, Ellen Riddle, (nee Thorpe) appears in the CWGC Register as the person who provided information relating to Leonard.
The War Diary records: 27 Jun-16 – X Day. 4.30am – 5.30am. Special bombardment on barrage lines.
5.30am Gas liberated on Divisional front, little retaliation, wire cutting throughout the morning.
12.15pm 4 men killed and 4 wounded in a sub-section dug-out at 5th Battery gun line by a 5.9.
3.00pm. 32nd Division on left let off gas, and got their front and 2nd lines heavily bombarded.
No enemy aeroplane up all day and no “gas bags,” 10 having been shot down by our aeroplanes yesterday.
6.30pm – 7.00pm. Bombardment on barrage lines.
7.30pm – 8.00pm. Bombardment on barrage lines.
10.00pm. Intense bombardment on enemy first and 2nd lines.
Brigade fired 5,309 rounds. No casualties.
On Friday July 21st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – UPPINGHAM SOLDIER’S KILLED. – Mr. and Mrs. J. Thorpe, Ayston-road, Uppingham, have received official intimation of the death in action of their son, Gunner L. C. Thorpe, R.F.A. He was 23 years of age. News of the death of Gunner J. Snodin, R.F.A., was conveyed in a letter from an Uppingham comrade, Gunner E. Aris, who informs his parents that “poor Jack was killed by a shell whilst in a dug-out.” Snodin was aged 23, leaves a widowed mother, who had two sons in the army.