Horace Webster
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Horace Webster was the son of William and Emma Webster (née Sheppard). His father William was born in 1858 at Kirkby in Ashfield and his mother Emma Sheppard was born in 1853 in Sutton in Ashfield. They were married at Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene in December 1877 and went on to have 12 children, sadly three died before 1911. Their children, who were all born in Sutton in Ashfield, were: James William b. 1878, Annie Eliza birth registered 1880 (J/F/M), Mary Jane b. 1881, Mabel b. 1882, Ada b. 1884, Gertrude Elizabeth birth registered 1886 (J/F/M), Lily b. 1887, George b. 1888, Henry Ward b. 1890, Horace b. 1891, Emma b. 1893 and Victor b. 1896. William, Emma and their children lived on Stoney Street, Sutton in Ashfield, at the time of the 1881 and 1891 census. William's wife Emma died in 1899 aged 46. By 1901 her husband was living on Dalestorth Street, Sutton in Ashfield, with 11 of their 12 children: Annie, Mary, Mabel, Ada and Gertrude who, like their father, were working in the hosiery industry, and Lily, George, Henry, Horace and Emma who were school age, and the youngest child, Victor. The eldest child, James, was probably a boarder living on Stoney Street and working as a registration clerk. The family was living at 24 Redcliffe Road, Sutton in Ashfield in 1911: William and six of his nine surviving children; Annie a hosiery machinist, Lily whose occupation was given as housekeeper, so presumably looking after the family, Henry a lace hosiery hand, Horace a manufacturer's clerk, Emma a hosiery mender and Victor an errand boy. George has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census but his sisters Ada and Gertrude were married. Ada had married George Shaw, a lace hosiery hand, in 1906 and they were living in Sutton in Ashfield with their two daughters. Gertrude married Isaac Gregory, a lace hosiery machine operator, in 1908 and they and their son were also living in Sutton in Ashfield. The three siblings who had died were Mabel (d. 1901 O/N/D), Mary Jane (d. 1907) and James William (d. 1908). Horace married Mary Ellen Fisher (born 17th July 1890) in 1916 (Mansfield registration district) and they lived at George Street, Sutton Road, Huthwaite, Nottinghamshire. Horace's widow was awarded a pension of 13 shillings and 9 pence a week with effect from 5th August 1918.
Private Horace Webster served with 'B' Company, 6th Platoon, 2/7th Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment. The 7th (Robin Hood) Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) replaced the Robin Hood Rifles on the formation of the Territorial Force in April 1908. The 2/7th Bn was formed in September 1914 as a second line unit and served in Dublin from April 1916 following the Easter Rebellion. The battalion served with the British Expeditionary Force France from 27 February 1917. Horace joined the army in May 1916 and served in France. He was reported missing in action on 6 December 1917 and was later presumed killed on that date. Horace has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval. He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of the Cambrai Memorial (extract): the Memorial 'commemorates more than 7,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South Africa who died in the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917 and whose graves are not known. Sir Douglas Haig described the object of the Cambrai operations as the gaining of a 'local success by a sudden attack at a point where the enemy did not expect it' and to some extent they succeeded. The proposed method of assault was new, with no preliminary artillery bombardment. Instead, tanks would be used to break through the German wire, with the infantry following under the cover of smoke barrages. The attack began early in the morning of 20 November 1917 and initial advances were remarkable. However, by 22 November, a halt was called for rest and reorganisation, allowing the Germans to reinforce. From 23 to 28 November, the fighting was concentrated almost entirely around Bourlon Wood and by 29 November, it was clear that the Germans were ready for a major counter attack. During the fierce fighting of the next five days, much of the ground gained in the initial days of the attack was lost.' (www.cwgc.org)
Horace's brother, Henry Ward Webster, served with the RAMC (81357 Corporal) and died in Egypt on 27 January 1919. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC additional information: 'Son of William and Emma Webster, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottingham; husband of Mary Ellen Webster, of George St., Sutton Rd., Huthwaite, Mansfield.' Notts Free Press, 10 January, 1919 and also Mansfield Reporter, 10 January 1919 MISSING PRIVATE H. WEBSTER, HUTHWAITE 'Mrs. H. Webster, George Street, Huthwaite, would be glad of any information respecting her husband, Private H. Webster 45348, B Company, 6th. Platoon, 2/7th. Sherwood Foresters. He joined up in May, 1916, and was sent to France at the end of that year and has been missing since December 6th of the following year, 1917. The official notification that he was missing was received on January 5th. 1918, just over a year ago. A letter from an officer a few days later stated that Private Webster was seen to fall during a retreat but the general opinion was that he was wounded and a prisoner. He has not been reported killed and every effort has been made to trace him, but without success. Private Webster was a native of Sutton, and his family live in Redcliffe Street, and he was employed before joining up at Messrs. Cash’s, Mansfield. A brother is Corporal Webster. R.A.M.C., who was on the Warilda when she was torpedoed in the Channel, and got off Scot-free.' Note: HMHS Warilda was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on 3 August 1918 by German submarine UC-49, with great loss of life.
