Sir Anthony Thorold, 15th Baronet

Captain Sir Anthony Henry Thorold, 15th Baronet, (7 September 1903 – 1 May 1999), was an English Royal Navy officer, public servant, and councillor. He served as Captain of from 1951 to 1952, and was Commodore in Charge, Hong Kong, from 1953 to 1955. After retirement, he turned to public service and politics, serving as High Sheriff of Lincolnshire for 1968 and as Leader of Lincolnshire County Council from 1973 to 1981.

Early life and education Thorold was born on 7 September 1903 to Sir James Thorold, 14th Baronet, and his wife Katharine Thorold (née Tindal-Atkinson). He would succeed his father to the Thorold baronetcy in 1965. He was promoted to lieutenant on 30 May 1926. He qualified as a navigating officer in 1928. He attended and passed the staff course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, in 1935. From 1941 to 1943, he was Staff Officer Operations to the Flag Officer Commanding Force H (James Somerville then Henry Harwood).

Thorold was promoted to captain on 31 December 1946. From January 1949 to 1950, he was senior officer of the Fishery Protection Squadron, and commanding officer of . From December 1950 to January 1953, he was captain of , a stone frigate that was home to the Royal Navy's Navigation and Direction School.

Thorold retired from the Royal Navy on 7 January 1956. Due to his high rank, he was allowed to continue to be addressed as captain.

Public service On 2 June 1959, Thorold was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) to the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. In 1961, he was appointed a Justice of the Peace (JP) for Kesteven.

Thorold also held a number of voluntary chairmanships: Grantham Hospital Management Committee (1963 to 1974), Lincoln Diocesan Trust and Board of Finance (1966 to 1971), and Community Council of Lincolnshire (1974 to 1981). Together they had three children: one son and two daughters.

Thorold died on 1 May 1999.

Honours In the 1942 King's Birthday Honours, Thorold was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). On 25 August 1942, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) "For bravery and enterprise while serving in H.M. Ships, Transports and Royal Fleet Auxiliaries in the successful operations which led to the surrender of the important base of Diego Suarez". On 19 June 1945, he was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Cross "For outstanding courage, determination and skill while serving in H.M. Ships Nairana, Campania, Lark, Ainwick Castle, Onslow, Onslaught, Cygnet, Whitehall, Orwell, Zambesi, Zealous, Zest and Opportune, and H.M.C.S. Sioux, in escorting a convoy to and from North Russia under continuous and fierce attacks by the enemy and in exceptionally hard weather conditions."