Thomas Anson Thornton, who died in January, was born at Brockhall, Northampton, and educated at Harrow.
He joined the 7th Hussars at Norwich in 1906 and went with them to India in 1911 where he soon became Master of the Ootacamund Hounds for two seasons.
He served with the Regiment in Mesopotamia and was appointed Brigade Major to the Peshawar Cavalry Brigade from 1919-1920 the time of the Afghan War-and rejoined us at York in October 1920. When the 7th Hussars returned to Edinburgh from India in 1923 he became second in command and was commanding officer from 1927-31.
In the following year he was appointed equerry to Prince Arthur of Connaught, a position he held for six years, and was reemployed in the Army from 1940-44.
He was High Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1946, was made a Deputy Lieutenant in the following year, and succeeded Colonel Fielden as Colonel of the Regiment, a post he held from 1948-52.
He got married in 1916, to Maude Fraser, and they had two sons and two daughters. Their eldest son, Richard, a young man of outstanding promise, was killed in Italy in 1944 when commanding a Squadron in the Regiment.
Tommy was a good-looking man, always well-turned out, and had a host of friends. He was a fine horseman, a bold rider to hounds, and a very useful polo player with a handicap of 5, who always helped and encouraged beginners. He was also a first-class shot and a good fisherman.
