(1916-10-15)15 October 1916 Christchurch, New Zealand
Died
10 June 1999(1999-06-10) (aged 82) Wellington, New Zealand
Allegiance
New Zealand
Service/branch
New Zealand Army
Years of service
1934–1971
Rank
Lieutenant General
Service number
20010[1]
Commands held
Chief of the Defence Staff Chief of the General Staff 5th Field Regiment
Battles/wars
Second World War
German invasion of Greece
Battle of Crete
North African campaign
Italian campaign
Awards
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches (2)
Spouse(s)
Gladys Janet Sloman
Other work
Ambassador of New Zealand to Vietnam (1972–74)
Lieutenant General Sir Leonard Whitmore Thornton, KCB, CBE (15 October 1916 – 10 June 1999) was a senior officer in the New Zealand Army.
Born in Christchurch, Thornton joined the Royal New Zealand Artillery in 1937 after having been encouraged by his uncle, Leonard Isitt, to pursue a military career. He served throughout the Second World War in a number of artillery and staff posts. Shortly after the war, he was appointed the commander of the artillery of the 2nd New Zealand Division. After holding a series of senior posts in the New Zealand Army, including a period as its commander, he was appointed Chief of the Defence Staff in 1965 for a six-year term. Knighted in 1967, he was later the New Zealand ambassador to the Republic of Vietnam. He died in 1999 at the age of 82.
^"No. 36668". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 August 1944. p. 3918.
Sir Leonard Whitmore Thornton, KCB, CBE (15 October 1916 – 10 June 1999) was a senior officer in the New Zealand Army. Born in Christchurch, Thornton joined...
General Thornton may refer to: Charles Wade Thornton (1764–1854), British Army lieutenant general LeonardThornton (1916–1999), New Zealand Army lieutenant...
Percy Thomson Jim Thorn Edward Thorne LeonardThornton Eruera Tirikatene Ernest Toop Geoffrey Tremaine Leonard Trent Tualaulelei Mauri Tupua Tamasese...
recent activity; Mr. Leonard is the conductor of the Colburn School Chamber Orchestra and he has been very involved at the USC Thornton School of Music, working...
David Thomson Robert Thomson LeonardThornton Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan Bob Tizard David Tompkins Peter Trapski Jim Traue Leonard Trent Ron Trotter Doug Truman...
songwriter Billy Bob Thornton. List of awards and nominations received by Billy Bob Thornton Billy Bob Thornton discography "Billy Bob Thornton – Filmography"...
historically, or aesthetically significant". In the 1920s, Sean "Trooper Thorn" Thornton, an Irish-born American retired boxer, travels from Pittsburgh to his birthplace...
1912–1924 (death) Predecessor Thomas Wortley Drury Successor Charles LeonardThornton-Duesbury Personal details Born (1856-07-20)20 July 1856 Died 31 October...
Dangerfield's long-time manager, who helped him get into films such as Caddyshack. Thornton Meloni, a child of Italian immigrants, returns from school one day to his...
and operatic soprano. Jerry Elizalde Navarro, 75, Filipino artist. LeonardThornton, 82, New Zealand Army officer. Oswald Tippo, 87, American botanist...
Jones Bishop of Sodor and Man In office 1928–1942 Predecessor Charles LeonardThornton-Duesbury Successor John Ralph Strickland Taylor Other post(s) Bishop...
The USC Thornton School of Music is a private music school in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1884 only four years after the University of Southern...
initially released under the title Like Moles, Like Rats, a reference to the Thornton Wilder play The Skin of Our Teeth. The events take place 20 years after...
Paul Leonard Newman (January 26, 1925 – September 26, 2008) was an American actor, film director, racing driver, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. He...
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who was twice Prime Minister of...
New Zealand Army including the Chief of General Staff Major General LeonardThornton, his remains were cremated. He was survived by his wife and four children...
(1964–1967) Paul Edmonds (1967–1968) Paul Edmonds (1968–1972) Sir LeonardThornton (1972–1974) Norm Farrell (1974–1975) (See also Vietnam) The embassy...
January 1929. Parker was still wearing the wedding ring Thornton had given her when she died. Thornton was in prison when he heard of her death, commenting...