Thomas William Horne
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Thomas William was the son of Henry James and Martha Horne (née Bullough). His father Henry James was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, in 1869 (reg. Henry William but baptised Henry James at Rotherham Minster, April 1869) the second of nine children of Thomas and Harriet Horne (née Blasdall also Blasdale/Blaisdale, m. 1867 Sutton in Ashfield St Mary Magdalene) and surviving his older brother, James William (b./d. 1868). Thomas Horne was born in Eversley, Berkshire, in about 1844 and Harriet Blasdall in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, also in about 1844. Thomas, a police officer, and Harriet were living in Cawthorne, Yorkshire, in 1871 and in Hemsworth, Yorkshire, in 1881 by which time Thomas had been promoted sergeant. Thomas had retired (police pensioner) by 1891 and he, his wife and their eight surviving children were living at Bruce Grove, Nottingham. Henry James was a van man (provision). His mother Martha was born in 1870 at Wombwell, Barnsley, the youngest child of William, a stationery engine driver (colliery), and Annie Bullough. The family was living at Wombwell Main, Wombwell, in 1881 and also in 1891 when Martha, a dressmaker, was the only one of William and Annie's children still living at home. Henry James married Martha in 1897 (reg. Barnsley Yorkshire). They had three sons who were all born in Nottingham: Thomas William b. 1898, Alfred b. 1902 and Frederick Charles birth registered 1905 (J/F/M) who died aged two in 1907. In 1901 Henry, a county court bailiff (employer High Bailiff), Martha and their son Thomas were living at 100 Caroline Street, Nottingham. Alfred was born the following year. By 1911 the family had moved to Rosslyn Street, Nottingham: Henry, Martha, Thomas (12) and Alfred (8). The family was living at 5 Pole Street, Nottingham, when Thomas was killed in action in October 1918. Thomas' parents and his brother Alfred were still living at the same address when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. His father probably died in 1948 and his mother in 1966.
1/8th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) The 1/8th Battalion was a Territorial Force battalion formed in Newark, Nottinghamshire, in August 1914. It was mobilised for BEF France, landing in France on 25 Fabruary 1915. From May that year the battalion came under orders of 139th Brigade 46th (North Midland) Division. The Battalion was in the Battle of the Selle, 17 October 1918-25 October 1918, fought in a phase of the final advance in Picardy during the Hundred Days Offensive. (See below) Thomas was killed in action on 17 October 1918 and is buried in Fresnoy-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension, France (grave ref C.6). 'The Hundred Days Offensive, also known as the Advance to Victory, was a series of Allied successes that pushed the German Army back to the battlefields of 1914. The German Spring Offensive came close to breaking the Allied front line but they just managed to hold on. In the Second Battle of the Marne (15 July-6 August), the Germans once again failed to deliver a decisive blow and on 18 July the Allied counter-attack, led by the French, pushed them back again. The Marne was to be the last German offensive. The Allies now seized the initiative.' (www.iwm.org.uk/history/from-amiens-to-armistice-the-hundred-days-offensive) CWGC - History of Fresnoy-Le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension (extract): The town of Fresnoy-le-Grand in the Department of the Aisne is 14km from St Quentin.' Fresnoy-Le-Grand was evacuated by German forces on the 9th October 1918, and occupied by the 46th (North Midland) and 6th Divisions. The Extension was made and used by the 46th Division in October 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'His name liveth for evermore' CWGC additional information: ' Son of Henry Horne, of 5, Pole St., Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour,’ 29 October 1918: ‘Horne. Killed in action on October 17th, Signaller TW Horne, Sherwood Foresters, aged 20, dearly loved eldest son of Mr and Mrs Horne, 5 Pole-street. A noble life laid down. From sorrowing parents & brother Alfred.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father, Henry, was his sole legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers index cards: named his parents, William (sic) and Martha Horne.
