My great-grandfather John Thorburn, born in ?Johnstonebrace, Scotland around 1840. His mother was Cathrine Thorburn ? name father. He married Helen Ellen Thorburn and emigrated to South Africa some time in the 1880's. He worked for the Natal Govt Railways as a Station Master. He had 4 children, Helen Cathrine Thorburn, Margaret Turner Thorburn, Mary Jeanette Thorburn and my Grandfather William James Thorburn who was born in Durban,in 1888. My Grandmother returned to Scotland with at least one of the daughters (Margaret) and during the first world war was living at 44 Cormiston Rd, Morningside, Edinburgh. John Thorburn died in Nqutu, South Africa on March 23rd, 1926.My grandfather William Thorburn fought in the first world war as part of the 2nd South African Infantry (Egypt, France) and later in Persia, as a member of the Dunsterforce. He met my grandmother who nursed him in England after he was wounded at Arras. His sister Margaret became a nurse and was a Matron in Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service during the 2nd World War. At the end of the war she emigrated to South Africa and lived with her siter Helen, neither of whom ever married. My Grandfather had three daughters, the youngest of whom is my mother. I would be grateful to hear from any Thorburns who may think they are related. I will certainly be able to cpmplete the South African branch of the family tree.