The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private W H Horn

Private William Henry HORN, S/1132, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, 18th April 1915.

Born Deptford, SE. son of Henry John & Mary Ann Horn.

21st March 1880, St Paul, Deptford, Lewisham, baptism of William Henry Horn, son of Henry John, (slaughterman), & Mary Ann Horn, 120 ???gate, Street.

19th September 1898, St James, Bermondsey, Southwark, SE, William Henry Horn, age 20, bachelor, engineer, 280 Salisbury Street, father Henry Horn, deceased, butcher, married Elizabeth Nolan, age 21, spinster, 280 Salisbury Street, father Richard Nolan, builder.

Children - Daisy May, born 13th March 1899, Deptford; Elizabeth, born 18th September 1901, Deptford; Josephine, born 10th February 1903, Deptford; Florence, born 2nd April 1904; William, born 12th September 1908, Deptford; Edward born 25th November 1911, Deptford; Rosetta, born 7th July 1914, Lewisham.

Previously served in West Kent Militia, 227 days & Royal West Kent Volunteers, 3 years.

1911 Census - 59 Windmill Lane, Deptford, SE - William Heney Horn, head, age 31, married, slaughterman, Deptford Cattle Market, worker, born Deptford, London; Elizabeth Horn, wife, age 32, married 13 years, 7 children, 6 still alive, born Rotherhithe, London; Daisy May Horn, daughter, age 13, school, born Deptford, London; Lily Elizabeth Horn, daughter, age 10, school, born Deptford, London; Josephine Horn, daughter, age 7, school, born Deptford, London; Florence Horn, daughter, age 4, school, born Deptford, London; William Henry Horn, son, age 2, born Deptford, London; Edward George Horn, son, age 4 months.

Enlisted Deptford, SE, age 34 years & 240 days, height 5ft 1¾ inches, weight 118lbs, grey eyes, dark hair, shield & W.H.M.E left forearm, Lizzie Nolan, right forearm. Resided Langton House, Lewisham Hill, London SE / 6 Railway Terrace, Ladywell, London SE. Formerly dock labourer.

Home 12th October 1914 to 7th November 1914; BEF 8th November 1914 to 18th April 1915.

12th October 1914, enlisted; 13th October 1914, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 21st October 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 8th November 1914, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 28th March 1915, appointed unpaid Lance Corporal.

1st November 1915, pension of 29/- a week awarded to widow & six children.

13th December 1919, War Office memo to Infantry Records Office - "With reference to your memorandum No.R.W.K./Star.10 of the 19th ultimo, I am directed to enclose an extract from the "Will" of the late No.1132.Private. W.H.Horn.1st Bn. Royal West Kent Regiment, and to inform you that , as his widow has since died, any medals which may eventually be awarded in respect of his service should be despatched to a responsible person who will hold them in trust, for the two sons, William Horn and Henry Horn, until they attain an age to appreciate their value. I am to state that you should communicate with the Reverend C Blofield, All Saints Boys Orphanage, Lewisham and request him to state whether he is agreeable to undertake the charge of these medals, two of which are to be handed to the eldest son of the deceased soldier and one to the younger."

26th January 1922, Infantry Records Office letter to The Revd C H Blofield, All Saints Boys Orphanage, Granville Road, Lewisham - "I am directed to forward, for custody, the accompanying British War & Victory Medal awarded to the late soldier above named. The 1914 Star (already in your possession) and the British War Medal should be handed to the deceased soldier's eldest son, William, and the Victory Medal to the younger son Edward, when they are considered to be of a suitable age to appreciate their value."

Commemorated at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Panel 45 and 47, Belgium.

This page was last updated on 20-Jan-2020.