James Horne
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
James was born in 1884, the son of Richard and Clara (née Birkhead) who were married in 1876. Richard was a mechanic/engineer. They had five children, Ada Gertrude, Florence, James, Clara and Richard all of whom apart from the youngest, Richard, who was born in Newcastle, were born in Nottingham. In 1881 Richard and Clara with their first child, Ada were living at 19 Commercial Street, Spring Close, Nottingham. However, they had moved to 9 Cheviot View, Newcastle upon Tyne, by 1891 where they were living with their five children Ada, Florence, James, Clara and Richard, who had been born in Newcastle. James' father died in 1897 aged 47, and by 1901 his mother was living with all her children at 30A Meadow Lane, Sneinton. With the exception of Richard who was still at school all the children were in work; Ada and Florence were dressmakers, James a junior clerk and Clara an errand girl. His mother, Clara, died in 1903 aged 48. Her address according to the Probate record was Priory Road, Gedling. James, Richard and Florence have not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. It is likely that James had already emigrated to Australia. Ada Gertrude had married in 1902 (AE Simpson) and was living in Port Sunlight, Cheshire, with her husband, a lithographic artist, and their three children, Florence, Gertrude and Albert. Clara was a boarder with a middle-aged couple, Thomas and Larisa Walker, at 157 Alfreton Road, Nottingham. Ada Simpson's husband enlisted in 1914 but was discharged 'under para 392 (iii) King's Regulatations', on 7 October the same year.
24th Bn Australian Infantry (AIF) Private James Horne enlisted at Melbourne on 16th July 1915, aged 31. He had served on the Western Front since landing in Marsailles on 26th March 1916. James was killed in action on 2 July 1916 and is buried in Ration Farm Military Cemetery La Hapelle-D'Armentieres (grave ref. I.I.2). CWGC - HIstory of Ration Farm Military Cemetery (extract): 'For much of the war, Ration Farm was just over 1 kilometre behind the front line at the end of a communication trench. The first cemetery, Ration Farm Old Military Cemetery, was begun in February 1915, close beside the farm buildings. It was used until October 1915 chiefly by units of the 6th Division and at the Armistice it contained 73 graves. In April 1923, these graves were moved into Plot VI of the present cemetery, at the request of the French authorities. The present cemetery was begun (as Ration Farm New Military Cemetery) in October 1915 and remained in use until October 1918. It was very greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated sites and small cemeteries on the battlefield, including [listed] ... For the most part, Plots I to V contain the original burials. Among the isolated graves brought in were many of Australian soldiers who died in the Attack at Fromelles on 19 July 1916.'
CWGC Additional information: 'Son of the late Richard and Clara Horne' Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 17 July 1916: ‘Horne. Killed in action Private J Horne, Australian M.F. late of Nottingham aged 32. Sisters Florrie and Clara.’ Probate: ‘Horne Clara of Priory-road Gedling Nottinghamshire widow died 27 December 1903 Administration Nottingham 12 January to Ada Gertrude Simpson (wife of Edward Albert Simpson) Effects £153 4s 6d.’
