Colonel Dudley Edwin Thornton, CBE, ERD (1 May 1919 – 22 April 2009) was a British soldier, who commanded the 18th Battalion of the King's African Rifles during the Burma Campaign, and was chairman of the Welch Regiment Museum, in Cardiff, from 1974 until his death.

Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, Thornton joined the Supplementary Reserve and was commissioned into the Welch Regiment as a second lieutenant.

When the War ended, he returned to serving with the Welch Regiment overseas, in Hong Kong, Singapore, Cyprus and Libya, before becoming the last Commanding Officer of the regimental depot in Cardiff and then Deputy Commander of the Welsh Brigade at Cwrt-y-Gollen, near Crickhowell.

[4] He went on to other overseas postings in Europe and the Far East before retiring in 1974 to live in Burton Lazars, Leicestershire, with his wife.

Throughout his life he had a strong interest in military history and assembled a small collection of medals, badges and other militaria.