James Stanley Thorn was born June quarter 1889 at Presteigne in Radnorshire, son of Henry Thorn, a butler, and Sarah Ann Thorn (nee Ashby). By 1891 they had moved to 1 Fronteg Cottages, Llantysilio, and by 1901 to 5 Maesllyn Cottages at which time James was a gardener, most probably at Llantysilio Hall (the cottages were part of that estate). James later emigrated to Australia, and in 1916 he was working for the railway in Korrolocking, Western Australia, when he enlisted as private 3219, 8/46^th Battalion A.I.F at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia. 

An enlargement taken from the memorial

photograph of Great War soldiers,

taken by local photographer Lettsome.