Horatio William Woolley
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
He was the second child of William Woolley (b. South Clifton) and Genasay Louisa Woolley. Louisa was the daughter of Daniel and Minerva Hill, born 1864 and baptised 17 April 1864, registration district Uppingham, Northamptonshire. William and Genasay were married in 1883 and according to the 1911 census had had five children all of whom were still living; Minerva Leonora, Horatio William, Maud H, George Frederick and May. Horatio may have been named for one of his mother's brothers who was also called Horatio. In 1891 William and Genasay were living in South Clifton where William was working as a farm labourer. They had two children by this time, Minerva Leonora (5) and Horatio. Ten years later in 1901 William was a farm foreman and living at Fiddlers Hole in North Clifton with his wife and three children, Horatio, Maud (7, b. South Clifton) and George (4, b. South Clifton). Their eldest child, Minerva, was a live-in servant at High Street, South Clifton, in the household of Charles Watson, a farmer and butcher, and his wife, Sarah. The family had moved again by 1911; William was a farm labourer living at Barks Farm Cottage, High Marnham, Newark, with his wife and two children, George, who was also working as a farm labourer and May (8). Horatio had already joined the Royal Marines and was recorded on the 1911 (Military) Census at the Royal Marine Barracks and Melville Hospital Barracks at Chatham. Horatio's 1914 Star was issued to father, Mr. W. Woolley, 20/12/19. There is an error on the Medal Roll as it says that he was also entitled to the Clasp but this was neither iissued nor claimed. Horatio's mother died in 1952 aged 88 (Newark registration district).
He had joined the RMLI by 1911 and then served in the Chatham Battalion (RND) at Ostend, Dunkirk and in the Defence of Antwerp 1914. He served with the Mediterranean Expedition Forces from 6 February 1915 until his death in Galipoli on 30 August 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial (Panel 2 to 7).
Horatio William Woolley was awarded the 1914-15 star campaign medal of the British Empire for his service in World War One. This Star is identical to the 1914 Star in every respect except that the centre scroll bears the dates" 1914- 15" and the two small scrolls bearing "Aug" and "Nov" are omitted. The spelling of Horatio's mother's name varies in the census and baptism records; the version used here is as appears in the birth, marriage and death indices. As Horatio William Woolley was a recipient of this medal he also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal, as it was not awarded singularly. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. With Pip representing either this medal or the 1914 Star, only one of which could be awarded to a soldier, Squeak represented the British War Medal and Wilfred represented the Victory Medal. Like many service personnel of World War One, Horatio William Woolley was entitled to the Victory medal, also called the Inter Allied Victory Medal. This medal was awarded to all who received the 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star and, with certain exceptions, to those who received the British War Medal. It was never awarded alone. These three medals were sometimes irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. Eligibility for this award consisted of having been mobilised , fighting, having served in any of the theatres of operations, or at sea, between midnight 4th/5th August, 1914, and midnight, 11th/12th November, 1918. Women who served in any of the various military organisations in a theatre of operations were also eligible. As with many Armed Forces personnel, Horatio William Woolley was entitled to the British War Medal for service in World War One. This British Empire campaign medal was issued for services between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918. The medal was automatically awarded in the event of death on active service before the completion of this period.
