Andrew Thorne

General Sir Augustus Francis Andrew Nicol Thorne was born on March 20, 1885, in Reading, Berkshire, England, and passed away on November 3, 1970. He was a prominent British military officer who served during both World Wars I and II. Thorne was the son of Sir Augustus Thorne and educated at Eton College and Sandhurst, where he earned a commission as an infantry officer in 1904.

Thorne's military career spanned several key roles, including service during the First World War, where he saw action on the Western Front. He held various commands throughout his career, including brigade command posts. During the Second World War, he was promoted to General and played a significant role in the British military efforts, notably as part of Operation Neptune, the naval component of the D-Day invasion.

In 1945, Thorne was responsible for overseeing the liberation of Norway from German occupation, leading a small British force that relied on cooperation with Norwegian resistance groups. During this period, there were allegations of forced labor by German prisoners under British supervision, though Thorne dismissed these claims. His role in Norway concluded when he handed sovereignty back to King Haakon VII in June 1946.

Thorne was decorated with several military honors, including the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath and the French Croix de Guerre. After his retirement in 1946, he remained active in organizations such as the Anglo-Norse Society and served as a deputy lieutenant in Berkshire until his death in 1970.