Horace James Carr
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Horace James was the son of George William and Jane Ann Carr (née Holmes Davenport). His father George William was born in Scarrington, Nottinghamshire, on 29 December 1866, the son of George and Catherine Carr. His mother Jane Ann Holmes Davenport was born in Kirkby in Ashfield on 3 June 1868. They were married at Basford Register Office oin 1892 (A/M/J Basford) and had ten children including the eldest who was born before their marriage and registered with her mother's surname, Devonport, although later known as Carr. All their children were born in Kirkby in Ashfield and their births registered in the Basford Registration District: Elizabeth Ann Devonport b. 1891, Lily b. 1893, Frederick George b. 1894, Minnie b. 1896, Horace James b. 27 March 1899, John Edmund b. 1901, George William b. 1902, Albert b. 1904, Mary Edith birth registered 1907 (J/F/M) and Emily Doris Mary b. 1910. In 1901 George, a carter at a colliery, and Jane were living at 15 Sherwood Street, Kirkby in Ashfield, with their six children Elizabeth (9), Lily (8), Frederick (6), Minnie (4), Horace (2) and John (under 1 year). The family had moved to 3 Sherwood Street by 1911. George was now working as a colliery horsekeeper (below ground). Nine of their ten children were still living at home: Lily, Frederick a coal miner/pony driver, Minnie a factory hand packer, Horace, John, George (8), Albert (6), Mary (4) and Emily (under 1 year). George had included the name of his eldest daughter Elizabeth on the census form with the information that she had been married one year (married name not given) but then deleted her name, presumably because she was no longer part of his household. The fourth daughter, Mary Edith, died two years later in 1913 aged six. The later CWGC record gives George and Jane's address as 14 Marlborough Road, East Kirkby. However, by 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled they were living at 3 Prospect Street, Kirkby in Ashfield. George had retired as a colliery horse keeper. Their unmarried son George William (d. 1952), a coal hewer, was still living with them. Jane Ann died in 1947 (registered J/F/M) and George William snr. in 1955; both deaths were registered in the Basford Registration District. Horace's brother Frederick George joined the Royal Navy as a stoker on 22 July 1913 on a Short Service Engagement (5 years RN 7 years Royal Fleet Reserve). He served throughout the war and was demobilized on 21 June 1919 transferring to the RFR on 22 June (PO.B9729, 1st Class Stoker). He died in 1941.
Horace James Carr was 18 years old when he joined the Royal Navy on 22 June 1917 as an Ordinary Seaman on a 'Hostilities Only' engagement. He served in the following ship and shore establishments: Victory I, 22 June 1917- 21 October 1917 (Ordinary Seaman); HMS St George, 22 October 1917-28 February 1918; HMS Queen, 1 March 1918-21 July 1918; Victory I, 22 July 1918-6 November 1918; HMS Carlisle, 7 November 1918-28 February 1919. He was demobilized on 28 February. His last ship, HMS Carlisle, was not completed until 16 November 1918 about a week after Horace was drafted to the ship. On completion she joined the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron at Harwich and was recommisioned in March 1919, just after Horace was demobilized, to serve on the China Station. Horace died on 22 September 1920 and was buried in Kingsway Old Cemetery, Kirkby in Ashfield (grave ref. C.J.327).
HMS Carlisle was a Cairo Class light cruiser launched 9 July 1918 and completed 16 November 1918. Joined the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron at Harwich on completion then was recommissioned on 1 March 1919 and served on the China station with the 5th LCS until 1928. In October 1943 she was bombed and badly damaged in the Scarpanto Channel south of Piraeus. Towed into Alexandria. HMS Carlisle was declared a constructional total loss and remained at Alexandria as a base ship. Latterly a hulk she was finally broken up locally in 1948. (source: www.world-war.co.uk/Cairo/carlisle) WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother, Mrs Jane A Carr.
