Arthur Illtyd Wates Horlock
Arthur was educated at the People’s College Nottingham, gaining a scholarship which took him to the High School. At the age of 17 he obtained an ‘exhibition’ to Oxford (Merton College), where he graduated. He joined the Polytechnic in 1905 after early teaching experience at Kivernell’s College, Hampshire, and George Green School, Poplar.
Arthur Horlock was a respected member of the teaching staff. Appointed to the Woolwich Polytechnic Secondary School as Mathematical Master in 1905, he was Senior Mathematical Master when he left to join the forces in Easter of 1916.
He was the only full-time Polytechnic teacher to be killed in the War. His application to be given leave to join the forces was submitted to the Education Committee of the Polytechnic in a letter dated 4th April, and was accepted and noted in the minutes of a meeting held the next day. His death was recorded by the same Committee on July 17th 1917, following the receipt a letter from his wife, dated July 10th.
His departure from Polytechnic life was noted by the Woolwich Polytechnic Magazine for October 1916, which reported, under the title ‘Secondary School Notes’, that: ‘we have seen some of our masters leave us to serve their King and Country—Mr Horlock, Mr Clarke, Mr Leather and Mr Jackson’ (WPM Oct 1916, p. 7). The same issue recorded: ‘a flying visit from Mr Horlock and Mr Leather before they went up to Edinburgh to join their unit’ (p. 9).
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Arthur Illtyd Wates was the son of Maximillian Bates Horlock and his wife Rebecca (née Wates).
His father Maximillian was born in Greenhithe, Kent, in 1845 (bap. Swanscombe SS Peter & Paul, 26 October) the son of Joseph and Sarah Horlock. His mother Rebecca Wates, the daughter of John Wates, was born in Lambeth, Surrey, in about 1847, They were married on 9 March 1875 in Lambeth, Surrey.
The couple had three children: Maximillian Wates b. 1875 (reg. JAS Gloucester) died 1880 (reg. JFM Bridgend, Glamorganshire), Arthur Illtyd Wates b. 1880 (JAS Bridgend) and Gwladys Muriel Wates b. 1882 (JAS Nottingham).
In 1881 Maximillian, a Riding Officer, Inland Revenue (Excise), Rebecca and their son Arthur, were living on Colhugh Crescent, Llantwit Major. Also in the home on the night of the census was a visitor, Kathleen Davis (b. Kentish Town).
The family had moved to 402 Alfreton Road, Radford, by 1891; both children, Arthur and Gwladys, were in the home on the night of the census. In 1901 Rebecca, named on the census as head of household, was living with Arthur, an Oxford undergraduate, and Gwladys, at 79 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. Maximillian has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census.
Maximillian Bates died from pneumonia on 24 January 1905 and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 28 January. The probate record gave his address as 42 Cranmer Street.
Arthur married a cousin, a former pupil of the Secondary School, Jessie Madeline Davis, in 1914 (reg. JAS), ‘on the eve of the war’. They had one child, Nancy, who was born on 28 April 1916. (WPM Oct 1917, p. 1). They lived in Blackheath but the later War Pensions record gives his widow and child's address as Loughborough, Leicestershire.
However, in 1921, Jessie Horlock, a shorthand typist employed by the Congregational Union of England Wales (Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, London), was visiting friends in Rottingdean, Sussex, while her five year old daughter, Nancy was recorded as a visitor in a household in Croydon.
Jessie, occupation secretary, was recorded as an inmate of the City of London Mental Hospital at Stone, near Dartford, at the time the 1939 Register of England & Wales was compiled. She died on 19 December 1962; the probate record gave her address as Stone House, Dartford, Kent. Administration of Jessie's Will was awarded to her unmarried daughter, Nancy, who died in 1987 (reg. Redbridge Greater London).
Arthur's sister, Gwladys, married Ernest D Burrin in 1914 (reg. Croydon). They had a daughter, Phyllis Winifred Gwladys (b. 7 July 1918), who was baptised at Liscard St Mary on 14 August 1918. Her father was an Assistant Paymaster RNVR, and the family was living at 6 Ellesmere Grove. Gwladys Muriel Burrin died on 15 October 1920; the probate record gave her address as 107 Poplar Avenue, Edgbaston (death reg. Kings Norton, Warwickshire). Administration of her Will was awarded to her husband. She was buried on 19 October in Nottinghamshire.
Arthur's widowed mother, Rebecca, died on 1 June 1935; the probate record gave her address as 107 Poplar Avenue, Edgabston. She was buried on 6 June in Nottinghamshire.
Arthur enlisted at Greenwich, G/49760, Private, 9th Platoon, ‘C’ Company, 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) (WPM May 1917, p. 27; SD vol. 12; MIC), formerly Stk/2529, 31st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (SD vol. 12).
He served in France from 11 October 1916. He wrote to the School, as recorded in the Woolwich Polytechnic Magazine, in May 1917 (p.16), ‘thanking the boys for gifts of tobacco and pipes’.
Arthur was killed in action on July 2nd, 1917 whilst performing sentry duty and is buried at Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-le-Preux, near Arras, France, in Plot I, Row F, Grave 6.
'This cemetery is situated close to the A1 autoroute, yet it is at peace. It is small, but has a beautiful classical arcade, and it has been in the news for the recent burial of several of Arthur Horlock’s fellow Royal Fusiliers, killed in the Battles of Arras and discovered eighty years later during construction of the autoroute. Private Horlock’s grave is simply marked—with no epitaph—a sad memorial to one of the Woolwich Polytechnic’s brightest stars. He is also commemorated on the Woolwich Hospital War Memorial Roll of Honour.'
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Arthur Horlock’s death was briefly reported in the Kentish Independent and Kentish Mail for July 20th 1917 under the title: ‘On the Western Front. Death of Mr Arthur Horlock’, the report was provided by the ‘Tutorial staff of the Woolwich Polytechnic’, who stated that: ‘It is with feelings of deep regret that we announce the death, which occurred on July 2nd on the Western Front, of our friend and colleague...We feel sure that his loss will be equally felt outside the Polytechnic, for he was well-known and most popular not only in Woolwich, but also in the neighbourhood’. It was also recorded in the Woolwich Polytechnic A.C. Notes of the same local paper on July 27th 1917: ‘The death of Mr Horlock...has far-reaching effects which extend directly to the Athletic Club. Mr Horlock at all times took a lively interest in the development of sport among the day school boys and was responsible thereby for the initial training of many of the Club’s most efficient members’.
A fuller obituary, dedicated poem and photograph were published in the October issue of the Woolwich Polytechnic Magazine, under the title: ‘A.I.W. Horlock, 1880-1917’. It reported: ‘On July 2nd 1917, Mr Horlock was killed in action on the Western Front. He was performing sentry duty and death was instantaneous. Familiar as we are, in these sad days, with loss and suffering of War, this news coming just before we broke up for the holidays, cast a gloom over the whole Polytechnic.’ The piece extorted his virtues; his musical talent, his versatility, fair-mindedness and patience. ‘Pacific in disposition, and philosophic in his detachment from everything appertaining to violence and hate he, nevertheless, offered his services voluntarily to his country and enlisted with Mr Leather as a private foot-soldier in a line regiment—the Royal Fusiliers. After three months training he went to France and saw a good deal of fighting in the lines as they moved on over the old battle-fields of the Somme.’ Mr Leather himself was quoted: ‘His patriotism was great then, but the hardships and dangers of war have only served to increase it. He has seen much more of these than I, as after being wounded, I found that those with him had been through six weeks of the most bitter fighting—such as I’d never seen.’ His army name was Jim: ‘Jim was lion-hearted and scorned ever to shew the least fear. Many people told me of his wonderful determination to ‘stick it’. The piece finished: ‘So perished, in his country’s cause, a brave and good man, the memory of whom will not readily die. He is the first of the Polytechnic teachers to lay down his life for his country’. A dedicated poem accompanied the piece:
In Memoriam. A.I.W.H.
He died a death that we, who knew him well’
Might envy, for he died as heroes should,
Fighting for Right and Justice; thus he fell
Dow’ring his native land with his life’s blood.
He was not one to choose the path of War,
For all his life in peaceful ways he spent.
The call of duty sounded from afar—
He knew his Country needed him—and went.
In the long nights beneath the starry dome,
Amidst the roar and rattle of the guns,
He thought of us and those he’d left at home,
We thought of him as one of Britain’s sons.
We know not how he fell—we have not seen
That thin and dwindling line that held so fast,
But mid the Khaki waves that swept Messines,
We know he did his duty to the last.
Honour to him whose final task is done—
Kind thoughts for those who for his loss must weep:
His crown of faithful service has been won—
Loyal and true he goes to his last sleep.
And though he rests far from his native land,
‘Neath stranger soil, unknown to the World renown,
Methinks God led him home with gentle hand.
And placed upon his brow the hero’s crown. —F.C.E.
Arthur Horlock’s death was commented on elsewhere in the same issue of the Woolwich Polytechnic Magazine. In the ‘Athletic Club Notes’, dated July 27th, it was explained that: ‘Mr Horlock, the popular master in the Secondary School, who was reported killed on active service last week has far reaching effects which extend directly to the Athletic Club. Mr Horlock at all times took a lively interest in the development of sport amongst the day school boys, and was responsible thereby for the initial training of many of the Club’s most efficient members.’ (WPM Oct 1917, p. 7). On page 18 it was reported that: ‘It will interest past members of the School....to hear that we are perpetuating the memory of our late master, Mr Horlock...by the institution of the ‘Horlock Swimming Challenge Cup’ to be held annually...’. In the ‘House Notes’ (p. 24) it was recorded that: ‘a great blow fell on the [blue] House through the death, in action, of our old House master, Mr Horlock...In his last letter his message to Blue was ‘Play the Game’...’.
Probate: Horlock. Arthur Illtyd Wates of 27a Hervey-road Blackheath Kent private 9th RF died 3 July 1917 in France or Belgium Probate London 1 August to Jessie Madeline Horlock widow. Effects £550.
There is a family grave in Nottingham General Cemetery and the inscription on the headstone also commemorates Arthur: 'In loving memory of Maximillian Bates Horlock who ... At Rest. Also of little Max son of the above who died at Llantwutt-- S. Wales (-) 1880. Also of Arthur Illtyd Wates Horlock who was killed in France on July 1917 aged 36 years. And of (-).' Headstone uncovered and identified, October 2025 (RF, CWGC EOHO).
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 25 January 1905: Horlock. On the 24th inst., Maximiian Bates Horlock of 42 Cranmer-street, from pneumonia, in his 60th year. No cards.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Additional research/record updated RF (Oct. 2025)
Courtesy Simon Williams
Photo of Arthur Illtyd Wates Horlock
Family grave and headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Identified & photographed Rachel Farrand (Oct. 2025)
Photo of Arthur Illtyd Wates Horlock
Famiy grave and headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery. Identified & photographed Rachel Farrand (Oct. 2025)
Photo of Arthur Illtyd Wates Horlock
Buried in Monchy British Cemetery, France. (www.cwgc.org)