Pte 37026 James Hornby

• Age: 30
• From: Burscough
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

James Hornby was born on 5th June 1887 in Burscough, Lancashire,and was baptised a week later on 12th June 1887 at St John's Church, Burscough. the son of Henry Hornby and his wife Sarah (nee Forshaw) who were married in 1872 also at St John's Church. 

The 1891 Census finds the family living at Burscough Town, Burscough. James is 3 years of age and is living with his parents and seven siblings, all of whom were born in Burscough. His father is a farmer born in Burscough in 1848, whilst his mother described as farmer's wife was born in Burscough in 1854. His siblings are listed as; Hannah aged 15, Lydia 13, Henry 10, Richard 9, Thomas 7, William 5 and newborn Phoebe. There is also a servant, George Whitter aged 16 present in the household.   

The father Henry died aged 46 on the 14th August 1894

James is shown on a register at Burscough Bridge Methodist School as entering the school in 1898 and leaving the school 18th June 1900   

The 1901 Census the family are living at Turnpike Road, Burscough. James is 13 years of age and described as a farmer's son. His mother, Sarah a widow aged 47, is head of the household, James has five siblings listed; Lydia aged 23, Henry aged 20, Richard aged 19, Thomas aged 17 and William aged 15.

The 1911 Census finds the family now living at Dumbells Farm, Wigan Road, Lathom. James is now 23 years of age and described as a lodger at works ends. His mother described as farmer and dealer is now 58 years of age. His brothers Henry and Richard are both resident at the property. There is also a servant, Sarah Brown aged 20 present in the household.     

His mother Sarah died aged 60 on 9th December 1912.

James enlisted in April 1916 at Seaforth, Liverpool joining the 4th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment before a transfer saw him serving in the 18th Battalion, K.L.R. as Private No 37026 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. 

18^th Battalion

On this day, before Zero Hour, the 18^th Battalion was part of 21^st Brigade and was to form up for the attack from trenches from the area of Sanctuary Wood to Observatory Ridge but it was dark and continually falling rain gave very poor visibility. The departure of the 21^st Brigade was delayed by heavy shelling.

The 18^th King’s began to move forward in the rear of the 2^nd Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment who had been detailed as the left attacking battalion of the 21^st Brigade.

No’s 1 and 3 Companies of the King’s led the way followed by No’s 2 and 4. In Sanctuary Wood there was considerable confusion, as a result No.2 and No.4 Companies became separated from the others, and were moved over to the left flank towards positions known as Surbiton Villas and Clapham Junction in the direction of the 90^th Brigade.

No.1 and 3 Companies were soon in action with the enemy, and were for a time, held up against an enemy strong point. They pushed forward with their right on a trench known as Jar Row and their left on the tramway south of Stirling Castle. Advance along Jar Row was held up by the Germans who put up a fierce resistance and the party was forced to withdraw.

Another group of men from No.1 and No.3 Companies led by 2^nd Lieutenant Graham were being held up by another strongpoint which was south of Stirling Castle, which was eventually stormed and taken.  Not far away from this action,  an attempt, by other men of No.1 and No.3 companies, was made to penetrate a broad belt of uncut wire, but this was covered by Machine-guns which killed almost every man attempting to pass through the two gaps that were discovered.

The situation was similar with No.2 and 4 Companies, who had attacked along the wrong axis. Their advance was met with fierce opposition, and once all the experienced officer’s had been killed or wounded, all cohesion was lost, although some men did reach and cross the Menin Road at Clapham Junction.

By that time, the situation had become extremely confused, and the whereabouts of all four companies being unknown to Battalion Headquarters, urgent attempts were made to discover their locations. Eventually by mid- afternoon, it was established that the bulk of the companies, although all mixed together, were dug in the vicinity of Stirling Castle and by mid evening, the Battalion Headquarters moved forward to meet them.

During its time in the line the 18^th Battalion lost 7 officers and 76 men killed or died of wounds and 7 officers and 177 men wounded. They were relieved on the 2^nd August.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo 20th Oct 1917:

Ormskirk District Casualties

Private James Hornby is reported to have been killed in action in France. He was 29 years of age and was a partner in the firm of Hornby Brothers, farmers Lathom.

Ormskirk Advertiser 25th Oct 1917

PTE JAMES HORNBY.

The youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs Henry Hornby of Dumbell's Farm, Westhead, who after being reported missing is now posted as having been killed on July the 31st. He was attached to the King's Liverpool Regiment which he joined in April 1916, being drafted to France in the following August. He was in his 30th year.

Soldiers Effects to brothers Henry T. and Richard, Pension to Aunt Phoebe Ashcroft, Dumbell's Farm.

He is also commemorated on the family headstone at St John's Churchyard, Burscough alongside his parents and sister Hannah and also on the War Memorial at St James Church, Westhead.

In Loving Memory Of

HENRY HORNBY

Who died August 14th 1894

Aged 46 years

Also HANNAH

Daughter of the above who died November 23rd 1896

Aged 21 years

Also SARAH HORNBY

Beloved Wife of the above

Who died December 9th 1912

Aged 60 years

"Until the day break and the shadows flee away"

Also JAMES Son of the above

Killed in action July 31st, 1917 in France

18th King's Liverpool Regiment aged 30 years

PEACE PERFECT PEACE

We currently have no further information on James Hornby, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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