| Regimental number | 42594 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Waikouaiti |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Lineman |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 11.5" |
| Weight | 162 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs Margaret Thorburn, Palmerston, Otago |
| Previous military service | Served in 10th (North Otago) Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Dunedin |
| Rank on embarkation | Private |
| Unit name | New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 24th Reinforcements (1st Draft), Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 81 Devon on |
| Final rank | Private |
| Final unit | 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Tyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel No 3), nr Ieper, Belgium |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: the late William (b. Scotland) and Margaret (b. Australia) Thorburn, Waikouaiti, Dunedin; Wife: Margaret A. Thorburn, 35 Nen Street, Oamaru |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Ebarked Wellington, 5 April 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 11 June 1917, and marched into Sling Camp. Proceeded overseas to France, 6 July 1917; joined 1st Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 9 August 1917, and posted to 8th Company. Killed in action, 12 October 1917. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | Nominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 59, p. 12 Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 7826103 |