George Bede Hornby Plant
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George was the son of the Reverend Thomas Manning and Hannah Isabel Plant (née Gregory).His father was born in Buckingham in April 1868, the son of John Thomas Plant, a boot and shoe maker, and his wife Lydia (née Coxall, m. 1862). The family originated in Lancashire but in 1871 John and his family were living in Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire, returning to the north by 1881 when they were living in Rishton, Blackburn.His mother Hannah Isabel was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1861, the daughter of William Gergory, a Collector (Inland Revenue), and his wife Isabella (née Crisp). They lived in West Hartlepool.Thomas and Hannah were married in Hartlepool, Durham, on 14 December 1893. He was ordained deacon in 1894 then on 18 January 1895 Thomas and his wife ('Anabel' Plant) sailed from Liverpool for Belize (British Honduras) onboard SS Engineer (Harrison Line). There were only 17 passengers, six of whom were clergymen. Thomas may have been appointed to the city of Lomas de Zamora, near Buenos Aires.Thomas and Hannah had returned to England by 1898 as Thomas, then curate at Christ Church, Jarrow on Tyne, officiated at the marriage in February 1898 of his sister, Rose Emma, to Robert Haworth, at the parish church of Rishton, Lancaster.Thomas and Hannah's son, George Bede Hornby, was born in 1898 (reg. J/F/M South Shields, Durham).Thomas Plant and 'Mrs Plant' were passengers onboard SS Oravia (The Pacific Steam Ship Navigation Company) which left Liverpool on 24 August 1899 for Buenos Aires, Argentina. The passenger list did not include the name of their son, George, who would have been about 18 months old. However, there is a 1901 census record of a widow, Isabel Gregory, her son Daniel, married daughter Anabel (sic) Plant and grandson, Bede Plant (3 b. Jarrow), living in West Hartlepool, Durham.Another child, Armand Lydia, was born in Argentina in 1911 but no birth registration has been sighted so it is not known whether she was Hannah's daughter or the child of Thomas' second marriage in Argentina to Ethel Flora (or Ethel Arminta) Bridger (b. 1885). Nevertheless, there is a record of the death of a Hannah Isabel Plant in 1909 (J/F/M Ormskirk Lancs).Thomas and Ethel had returned to England by 1913 and they had four children between 1913 and 1921: Kathleen Flora b. Ringland Norfolk 1913 (J/F/M), and the three youngest children who were born in Leicestershire (reg. Market Harborough), Mary C. b. 1916, David Robert Peter b. 1918 and Ruth Anne b. 1921.Reverend Thomas Plant was the vicar of the parish of Theddingworth All Saints, Market Harborough, and the family was living in the parish of Mowsley, Market Harborough when George was killed in 1918. They were still in the parish at the time of the 1921 Census. There were nine in the household, six of whom have been identified as Thomas, his wife Ethel Flora, Armand, Kathleen, David and Mary. The youngest child, Ruth, was born later that year.By 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Thomas, a Clerk in Holy Orders, his wife Ethel and four of their children, Kathleen, Mary a poultry farmer, David a smallholder and Ruth a bank clerk, were living at Whinwhistle Farm, East Wellow, Hampshire. Thomas was, or had been, the vicar of St. Margaret, Wellow Romsey Hampshire.Thomas died in 1946 (reg. Romsey) and his widow Ethel in January 1951; she was still living at Whinwhistle Farm. Administration of Ethel's estate was awarded to Alan Henry Pierce master mariner (m. Aminta-sic Lydia Plant, 1936) and Kathleen Flora Rayner (née Plant m. Philip Rayner,1947).
Norfolk Yeomanry: Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Lane (inc. Yeomanry and Imperial Camel Corps). Previously Inns of Court OTC - Lance Corporal.George joined the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps shortly after the outbreak of the war. He was commissioned second lieutenant on 21 September 1915 into the Norfolk Yeomanry. George served with the BEF France from 31 March 1918. He was killed in action during the Battle of Epehy on 18 September 1918 and is buried in Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy, Somme, France (grave ref: I.I.1). He was awarded the Military Cross posthumously for 'conspicuous gallantry on Aug. 25th, 1918', London Gazette: 31183, 15 February 1919 and 31480, 30 July 1919. (See 'Extra information')CWGC - History of Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery (extract): the village of Epehy is between Cambrai and Peronne about 18km from Peronne. 'The village of Epehy was captured at the beginning of April 1917. It was lost on 22 March 1918 after a spirited defence by the Leicester Brigade of the 21st Division and the 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers. It was retaken (in the Battle of Epehy) on 18 September 1918, by the 7th Norfolks, 9th Essex and 1st/1st Cambridgeshires of the 12th (Eastern) Division. The cemetery takes its name from the Ferme du Bois, a little to the east. Plots I and II were made by the 12th Division after the capture of the village, and contain the graves of officers and men who died in September 1918 (or, in a few instances, in April 1917 and March 1918). Plots III-VI were made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields surrounding Epehy and the following smaller cemeteries [listed]'. (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC additional information: 'Son of Thomas and Hannah Isabel Plant, of Theddington Vicarage, Rugby.'WMR 57858, All Saints Church, Main Street, Theddingworth, Harborough, LE17 6QZ: Lieutenant GBH Plant MC and Trooper DE Bridger. Marble tablet with inscription: 'To the Glory of God and in most loving memory of two dear boys who fell in the Great War 1914-1919. Lieut. George Bede Hornby Plant MC, Norfolk Reg. Son of the Rev. Thomas Plant, Vicar of Theddingworth, who fell at Epehey, France, Sept. 18, 1918. Also of Trooper David Edgar Bridger, Argentine Volunteer King Edward’s Horse, who died in camp at Bishop’s Stortford, April 19, 1915. Brother of Ethel Flora Plant.’ CWGC 2746017. 738 Private DE Bridger, 1st King Edward’s Horse, died 19 April 1915, buried Biggleswade Cemetery (grave ref. 13). Bedfordshire Times and Independent, 30 April 1915 (extract): ‘Biggleswade. The funeral of the late Trooper David Edgar Bridger, of King Edward’s Horse, who died at Bishop’s Stortford, of spotted fever, took place on the 22nd. The remains were brought by road from Bishops Stortford on the 21st, and were deposited in the Parish Church, a Union Jack covering the coffin ... Among the sympathisers were: Dr Bridger (brother), Mrs Austin and Mrs Plant (sisters) … ‘A’ Squadron, King Edward’s Horse, Bishop Stortford.’The following is from 'The Cuthbertian' January 1920 issue No. 1: 'Plant (the son of the Rev. Thos. Plant, Theddingworth Vicarage, Rugby) joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. shortly after the war broke out, and before he was 17 years of age. He was described by his colonel as "very energetic, very keen, and very brave." The following extract is taken from the "London Gazette," 30th July, 1919, and refers to the posthumous award of the Military Cross. "For conspicuous gallantry on Aug. 25th, 1918, north east of Mametz. On nearing the objective the advance was held up by machine gun fire from a strong point. He at once organised and led an attack on the strong point, which was beaten off by the enemy. Undismayed he rallied his men, and again attacked and captured the position, killing many of the enemy. His fine courage and determined leadership enabled the advance to be continued, and the objective gained."'Lives of the First Wold War Newspapers and the Great War blog by John Dilley: 1 October 1918 edition of the Market Harborough Advertiser. 'There is news of the death of Lieutenant G Plant, eldest son of the Theddingworth vicar. He was killed in action ‘gallantly leading his men in an attack in a village somewhere in France’.Plant was well known in the locality and ‘his genial manner and lovable nature endeared him to all who knew him’ says the report. The story continues: 'He joined the Army at his earliest opportunity and was given a quick promotion. He was always anxious to get to France and do his bit there but his commanding officer found useful work for him to do in England. Six months ago, at his own request, he was sent to France and although but 20 years of age, was given a responsible charge.''British in Argentina 1914-1919: ‘Plant. George Bede Hornby. Lieut. King’s Own Norfolk Yeomanry; killed in action, France, December 1918; age 20; son of Revd. T Plant, formerly vicar of Flores and Lomas; at school in England at the outbreak of war; enrolled 1915.’Probate 30 April 1919: Administration of George's Will was awarded to his father (Effects £194 7shillings).
