Thomas Horobin
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Thomas Horobin was born in 1898 in Nottingham; he was the son of Richard, a picture framer, and Emma Horobin née Lees of 7 Grant Street, Radford, Nottingham. His father Richard was born in 1867 in Manchester and his mother Emma Lees was born in 1868 in Manchester. They were married on 20th February 1886 at St Thomas's church Adwick, Lancashire, they went on to have 9 children, sadly two of whom died in infancy, their surviving children were :- Robert b1887 Manchester, Eliza b1890 Manchester, William b1889 Manchester, Elizabeth b1893 Nottm, Richard b1896 Nottm, Thomas b1898 Nottm and Annie b1901 Nottm. In the 1911 census the family are living at 1 Grant Street, Nottingham and are shown as Richard 44 yrs a picture framer, he is living with his wife Emma 43 yrs and their children William 21 yrs a stableman, Richard 15 yrs a cycle frame maker, Thomas 13 yrs a scholar, Elizabeth 18 yrs a swiss mender, and Annie 10 yrs a scholar. At the time of Thomas's death his parents were living on Baldwin Street, Radford.
Pte. Thomas Horobin enlisted in Nottingham on 5th September 1914; he gave his age as 19 yrs and 173 days old (he was actually only 16 yrs old, was 13 yrs of age in the 1911 census). He served in the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. He landed in France on 29th July 1915. He was killed in a grenade training accident on 31st August 1915, he was still only 18 yrs old. He is buried in Mondicourt Communal Cemetery. He was killed alongside Pte.John Newton and Pte. Albert Turton, also of 8th battalion Leicestershire Regiment and also buried in Mondicourt Communal Cemetery. The accident took place at Mondicourt when one man, who was being shown how to use a British No. 1 Mk. III grenade, dropped it. Horobin, Newton and Turton, as well as three others were killed outright.
His brother William Horobin also served during the Great War; Pte. William Horobin, 39th Battalion Australian Imperial Force. He broke his right arm in an accident on 13th March 1917. Nottingham Post obituary (abridged) 8 September 1915: 'Horobin. Accidentally killed August 31st by bomb, Private Thomas Horobin, 8th Bn Leics. son of Mr and Mrs Horobin, Baldwin Street, Radford.' In memoriam published 31st August 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post : - “TURTON. – In loving memory of Lance-Corpl. Albert Turton, 8th Leicesters, 25, Ladysmith-street, accidentally killed in action August 31st, 1915. God be with him till we meet again. – Lizzie In memoriam published 31st August 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “HOROBIN. – Accidentally killed in action in France, August 31st, 1915, Private Thomas Horobin, Leicestershire Regiment. Days and night still hold their sadness, tears of sorrow often flow; memory keeps our loved one near us, whom God claimed two years ago. – Father, mother, sisters, brothers, and brother Robert (in France). “HOROBIN. – Accidentally killed in France, August 31st, 1915, Private Thomas Horobin, Leicesters, aged 18 years. A true Englishman. – Deeply mourned by his loving father, mother, brothers, and sisters. From loving brother Bill A.I.F.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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