Arthur James
HORNSBY
1894 - 1917
Early Life
ARTHUR JAMES HORNSBY was born in 1894 at Fanners Green, Great Waltham, the youngest child of Thomas William and Agnes Hornsby (née Laflin). He was baptised in the Parish Church in the Great Waltham on the 2nd September 1894.
His parents were married on the 17th September 1881 in Ringshall, Suffolk and Agnes’s home village. She was working at Parsonage Farm, Broomfield as a Domestic Cook, prior to her marriage. Thomas lived at Fanners with his parents working as an Agricultural Labourer.
Arthur had one elder brother, Benjamin William and two older sisters, Ellen Charlotte and Milly (Millie) Agnes.
In 1901 Thomas was employed as a Stockman (Cattle) on a farm. Arthur was 6 years old.
By 1911, Arthur was 16 years old and a Farm Labourer, as was his brother.
Military Life
Arthur was conscripted into ‘D’ Company, 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment, Regimental No. 34518, possibly around 1917.
In October 1917, the Battalion were in shell holes at the Front Line at Liepsig Farm, Flanders. The Battalion were forced to evacuate the Reserve position owing to casualties from shell fire and took up fresh position 200 yards south of Poelcapelle Road. They were relieved the same night by the 1st Bn Rifle Brigade. The Battalion took up positions by Tray Farm in Divisional reserve.
Death and Memorial
On the 13th October the Battalion were just out of line and removed to Porchester Camp, Flanders by train. Albert may have been one of the wounded moved to a Field Hospital.
Arthur died on the 19th October 1917, at the age of 22 years, from his wounds and his body was returned to Great Waltham for burial on the 27th October.
