South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Sapper 112720 Thomas James HORNSEY - 179th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers

Killed in action on Friday 31st December 1915 aged 45

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star,British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
7 Sep 1915 in France Queens & Kings South Africa Medal & 7 Clasps Stratford on Avon WW1 Memorial
    Stratford Holy Trinity Church 
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted Stratford Cemetery Memorial 
Local actions on the Somme After 1 Jan 1915 in London  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials
Albert, Somme Gunner 71777 Royal Artillery  
     

Previous Service Record

  • 20 Mar 1889 - Enlisted in Royal Field Artillery in Burton on Trent - Gunner 71777
  • 01 Oct 1890 - Posted to India
  • 01 Feb 1897 - Posted back to UK
  • 31 Dec 1899 - Posted to South Africa
  • 02 Apr 1902 - Posted back to UK
  • 22 Apr 1902 - Discharged after 13 years service

Circumstances of Death

Thomas is listed as being killed in action on 31st December 1915. The 179th Tunnelling Coy war diary entry for that day is transcribed below along with a Death Notice from the Stratford Herald.

Near Thiepval - 31.12.1915: Strength:
18 Officers & 266 OR’s RE posted and 54 RE attached to Infantry
1 Officer & 64 OR’s the mines? + 3 OR attached for duty
13 in ASC & [unreadable] + 2 to RAMC
Total 19 Officers and 418 OR

Casualties: 3 OR RE to hospital + 2 OR RE from hospital
54 OR RE arrived from entrenching battalions

2pm: Lt. W. Hudson to hospital (21 CCS)

5.30pm: Enemy ?flat fired under S4 workings
Casualties: 112720 Spr Hornsey T; 102977 Spr Jones T.

11am?: Trench mortar wounded the following whilst entering trenches for relief of men in shift: 86913 Spr Adams G.C; 112607 Spr Yapp W; 139145 L/Cpl Saunders W; 139194 Spr Waring T (latter 2 still at duty).

Stratford Herald Friday 21st January 1916
STRATFORD FAMILY’S BEREAVEMENT SAPPER T. HORNSEY

Mr. and Mrs. John Hornsley of Henley Street have been notified from Chatham that their second son, Sapper T. Hornsey 179th Company Royal Engineers was killed in action in France on December 31st. He was 45 years of age and had seen service in South Africa with the Royal Field Artillery.

In September last he rejoined the colours and went to France after a few weeks training.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Jun Qtr 1870 in Hartington, Derbys 17 Sep 1871 in Coton in the Elms 
   
Parents Names Abode
John and Sarah Hornsey 27 Henley Street, Stratford on Avon                                    
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1871 - Hill Top, Hartington, Derbys 1881 - Scholar
1881 - Church Street, Coton in the Elms, Derbys 1889 - Labourer
1889 - 6 Wellesbourne Grove, Stratford on Avon (family) 1889 - Soldier in Royal Field Artillery
1891 - Army Barracks, India 1901 - Soldier in Royal Field Artillery
1901 - Army Barracks, South Africa  
1911 - 27 Henley Street, Stratford on Avon (family)  
1915 - 27 Henley Street, Stratford on Avon              
   
  • We have been unable to find any record of Thomas after he left the Army in 1902. His family were living at 27 Henley Street in 1911
  • He enlisted in London but his Soldiers Who Died in the Great War gives his residence as Stratford on Avon.
  • It is possible he enlisted in London to hide his true age as at age 44 he was too old to enlist in 1914/15

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