Special event to honour war hero and Rangers star Willie Thornton

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A special event is being held to honour a West Lothian war hero and talented Rangers footballer.ASS Scotland Charity is organising an 80th commemoration for Gunner Willie Thornton MM, from Winchburgh.A precocious talent on the football pitch, he was spotted by the Ibrox scouting team playing for the local Albion team, and was quickly signed up for Rangers joining the club straight from school in March 1936.He made his first team debut on January 2 1937 in 1-0 away win over Partick Thistle at the tender age of 16.His second appearance a week later saw him score his first goal in a 4-0 home win over Arbroath, making him the youngest player ever to score a competitive goal for the club.Willie remained back-up to first choice centre forward until the start of season 1938/39.Like many of his generation, the outbreak of War in September 1939 put his career on hold, with Thornton enlisting as a Trooper in the 80th (The Scottish Horse) Regiment of the Royal Artillery, seeing combat in Tripoli, Sicily, Anzio and Monte Cassino.In 1943, he was awarded The Military Medal for coolness under heavy shell and mortar fire in the battle for the Sferro Hills in Sicily.He had maintained constant communication for 18 hours and passed down Fire Orders often under heavy shelling and mortar fire.By his coolness and devotion to duty Gunner Thornton gave great assistance to his Battery Commander in bringing down his fire on the enemy.Gunner Thornton was one of only nineteen members of the regiment to receive this award over the duration of the Second World WarAfter the war was won, Willie returned to civilian life, and returned to the place he loved - Ibrox.He seemed determined to make up for lost time, resuming his brilliant goal scoring form