WW1 Casualty: Private 70380 William Henry Hornby - Private 70380 William Henry Hornby
| Unit/Regiment |
Infantry, 166th Coy, Machine Gun Corps |
| Date of Death |
14/06/1917 |
Age at Death |
29 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery
III A 4 |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
William Henry Hornby was aged 13 and lived with his 35 year old widowed mother Eliza at 7, Warrington Road, Prescot. |
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth Registered Q1/1888, Prescot, 8b, 701 |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Prescot, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
St Helens, Lancs |
| Resided |
Prescot, Lancs |
| How Died |
Killed In Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P157 |
Service DetailsWilliam Henry Hornby attested as Private 2427 into the 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, at St. Helens on 3rd September 1914. He stated that he had previously completed a 4-year engagement with the same regiment.
He originally served as Private 2427 in the South Lancashire Regiment. He was the cousin of Private William Hornby, also of the Machine Gun Corps, and the nephew of William Hornby of the Manchester Regiment.
He was aged 26 years and 7 months and was employed as a machinist at the British Insulated and Helsby Cables Company. He stood 5 foot 6 inches in height and had a chest measurement of 35 inches, expandable by 2 inches. His vision and general physical development were both classed as 'Good' and he was passed fir for military service. He was single and recorded his address as 9, Albany Road, Prescot. His sister, Elizabeth Fowler of the same address, was recorded as his next of kin.
The 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. The battalion embarked at Southampton on 13th February 1915, arriving at Le Havre the following day.
Over the next few days the battalion marched to billets at Le Bizet, and then undertook instruction in trench warfare. The system was for companies from a battalion to be attached to other battalions for spells in the line, before the sector was allocated to the battalion on its own. In addition to the trench duty, the battalion undertook its share of pioneer work and training in rapid fire.
The Battalion was moved around regularly without seeing action, until 28th April when it was moved to Vlamertinghe, Belgium in readiness to take part in the 1st Battle of Ypres, which had started on the 22nd.
On 2nd May, the Germans launched a violent attack, accompanied by a cloud of chlorine gas, and the battalion was moved into the line for the first time. On 3rd May, it was moved to the new line in front of Wieltje, and then on the 4th it was again moved to Shell Trap Farm. At dawn, they engaged the Germans but by 4pm the enemy was within 400 yards of the British lines, from where they began a heavy bombardment of the British lines.
More shell fire continued through the next day, culminating in heavy concentrated fire about 5 p.m. which resulted in a considerable number of men being buried, many of them killed and wounded. The enemy fire continued until midnight and four attempts were made by the Germans to take the farm, but all were repulsed.
At 2 a.m. on the 6th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to La Brique, having incurred considerable casualties.
On the 8th May, the battalion was once more sent up to the Wieltje sector as it was thought that the enemy had broken through, but it proved to be a false alarm and on the 9th it returned to La Brique, leaving 'C' Company and a machine-gun detachment at Wieltje. Early on the 10th, the battalion moved to the bank of the Yser canal where it remained until the 13th, when it was moved back to the support lines.
Private Hornby is reported to have suffered a Gun Shot Would to the left knee while serving in the field on 24th May He was initially treated at a Casualty Clearing Station but was them moved by train to hospital at the base camp at Rouen, arriving there on 26th May. He was moved to convalescent camp on 29th May and then rejoined his battalion on 6th June.
Private Hornby reported as Wounded in the Manchester Evening News os 23rd June 1915
On 10th March 1916, he reported to the Machine Gun Corps for duty. (This was probably a secondment rather than a transfer). He was again admitted to hospital (actually a Divisional Rest Station) on 15th March suffering from Inflammation of the Connective Tissues (ICT) of the right leg. This was usually rheumatism, myalgia, etc.) He rejoined his unit 5 days later. A few days later, 20th March 1916, he was promoted to paid Lance Corporal.
Private Hornby was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 28th November 1916. He was once again admitted to hospital on 11th January 1917, again suffering from ICT, this time of the body, but he rejoined his unit on 16th. His record then shows that on 13th May 1917 he reverted to his previous rank of Private at his own request. The following week, on 21st May, he was granted 10 days leave to the UK.
An extract from William Hornby's service record, showing his admission to and discharge from hospital, plus his reversion to private from Corporal.
The next record of Private Hornby simply records him as being Killed in Action on 14th June 1917. His body was recovered from the battlefield and he now rests in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery.
Undated item in the Prescot Reporter (courtesy Ste m)
On 16th January 1918, the War Office wrote to the Records Office of the Machine Gun Corps and advised that any personal effects of William Hornby should be returned to Mrs. Elizabeth Fowler of 12, High Street, Prescot, and that any medals due to the deceased should also be sent to the same person.
The Records Office wrote to Elizabeth Fowler on 15th April 1919 asking her to complete an attached form, relating to the family of William Hornby, in order that the Memorial Plaque and Scroll should be delivered to the correct person. On this form, Elizabeth wrote that William was not married and did not have any children, and that both of his parents were deceased.
He had one brother, Arthur Hornby aged 26, who lived at 12 High Street, Prescot, and also one sister, Elizabeth Fowler, aged 28 and living at the same address.
Elizabeth wrote to the Army Records Office on 20th April 1922, acknowledging receipt of her late brother's British War Medal and Victory Medal, then again on November 10th 1921 when she received his 1914-1914-1915 Star.
The Parish Magazine of 28th June 1917 reported 'The following are deaths in action, all in France or Belgium' and included 'Corporal William Henry Hornby, 29, of High Street, 5th S. Lancs. Killed June 1917'.
The listing of Pte. Hornby's death in the London Times, July 1917.
A clipping from the Prescot Reporter, 14th September 1917.
William Hornby's Medal Index Card shows his service with the South Lancashire Regiment prior to transfer to the Machine Gun Corps. He fist arrived in France with the South Lancashire Regiment on 13th February 1915.
William Hornby's grave at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery.
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