WW1 Casualty: Private 301938 William Hornby - Private 301938 William Hornby
| Unit/Regiment |
1st/10th Bn, Manchester Regiment |
| Date of Death |
20/10/1918 |
Age at Death |
43 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Belle Vue British Cemetery, Briastre
E 4 |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
William Hornby was a 26 year old Watch Jeweller living at No 3, Royal Hotel Cottage, Derby Street, Prescot. His father was also William, a 73 year old watch frame maker. His mother was Elizabeth (65) and also at the address were his sisters Martha (33, a Watch Wheel Cutter), Elizabeth (20) and Sarah Robinson (26). Also present is Sarah's daughter Elsie Robinson aged 5. The census shows that Elsie was born in the United States.
1911 Census -
I have been unable to locate William in the 1911 census, though the majority of his family still lived at Royal Hotel Yard |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Prescot, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
St Helens, Lancs |
| How Died |
Killed In Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P156 |
Service DetailsWilliam was the uncle of William Hornby and William Henry Hornby. His Medal Index Card states that he was previously Private 5544, Manchester Regiment. In addition, his entry in Soldiers Died in the Great War further states that he was previously Private 19850, South Lancashire Regiment.
It is hard to be certain of the date when William joined the army of when he went overseas. However, his Medal Index Card shows his original four digit service number as well as his six digit number from the Territorial renumbering of March 1917. With the absence of a "Star" medal entitlement, this tells us that he went first went overseas after January 1916 and before March 1917.
The extract from the Medal Rolls, shown below, also reports that he served as 5544 with the 8th Bn of the regiment before transfer to the 10th
The extract below, from the Liverpool Daily Post on 16th October 1917, includes William amongst a list of wounded men from the Manchester Regiment
On the 23rd March 1918, the 42nd Division was on the move in response to the long-anticipated German attack. London Motor buses took them south to Adinfer Wood and they marched on to the Arras Bapaume road. The German advance had thrown the army into retreat and the division was needed to attempt to reinforce the line. As the battle waged on, the battalion found it's self in Logeast wood then to Ervillers, where they reinforced the 40th division. The Germans attacked them there in strength but were beaten back several times, finally that evening they carried out a fighting withdrawal. After two weeks holding the line, the battalion was ordered back to Souastre where it was gratefully fed and watered.
On the 14th April the 10th moved back to the front, there they spent three weeks in and out of the front line trenches north east of Rossignol Wood, to be relieved on the 6th May. At Pas Wood the battalion took some time training up newly arrived American Troops In June they returned to the trenches south of Hebuterne. Heavy shelling and trench raids were a feature of life there and flu began to take its toll.
The division kept up the pressure on the German lines and by August, the battalion was ready to attack Serre. This was accomplished by the 20th and the allied troops were now taking back the battlefield of the Somme, previously lost to the enemy in March and April. At Miraucourt, the 10th along with the 5th East Lancashires won an important battle, and later the battalion took the village of Riencourt, winning many medals in the process.
On the 15th September, the battalion occupied Havingcourt Wood again, as it had 15 months previously. There they were gassed but most were protected by their masks.
The 23rd saw them near Tresault, patrolling no mans land prior to an attack there on the 27th. At 2.30am the 10th followed the barrage cresting Highland Ridge and chased the Germans through Couillet Wood reaching the abandoned trenches of Welsh Ridge. Here the 8th Battalion took over.
On the 29th the Kiwis passed though and swept on towards LaVacquerie - the Hindenberg Line was broken.
On the 12 October the 10th relieved the New Zealanders on the River Selle and attacked the German lines over the river. In hand to hand fighting, men lost in the dark were led by the example of the NCOs and officers, in a ferocious battle lasting five hours, the battalion achieved it's objectives with honour. The battalion continued its pursuit of the retreating German forces through to the beginning of November.
As part of this fighting, Private Hornby was killed on the 20th October.
William was originally buried in Briastre Communal Cemetery Extension, close to where he fell, but in August 1922, the 47 men buried there were exhumed and re-interred at Belle Vue British Cemetery, a short distance away.
Private Hornby's Medal Index Card. His number with the Manchester Regiment prior to renumbering is shown. His entitlement was to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The Register of Soldiers Effects, listing William's widow, Elizabeth, as his next of kin
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