Horace James
WAKELING
1920 - 1943
Early Life
HORACE JAMES WAKELING was born on the 13 May 1920 at Chatham Green, Great Waltham. He was one of six children born to James and Vera May Wakeling (née) Cole. James and Vera were married in 1915 at Smallburgh in Norfolk. The family moved to Chatham Green where James’s parents and family lived.
Their first daughter, Vera May was born in Yarmouth on the 28 November 1915, Horace was their second child, followed by Donald Eric, born 6 December 1921, Barbara Ethel, born 15 June 1923, David Arthur, born 1 October 1928 and Doreen Lettie, born 19 November 1932.
Horace was baptised at Little Leighs Church on the 6 June 1920.
BAPTISM HORACE JAMES WAKELING AT LITTLE LEIGHS CHURCH
Horace attended the local school and was then employed at Crompton Parkinson’s in Chelmsford as a Coppersmith.
Military Service
On the 21 March 1939, he joined the Territorial Army in Chelmsford as a Private, in the Infantry, 1/5th Battalion of the Essex Regiment, headquartered on Market Road. Service No. 6014396. This battalion, like other Territorial units, consisted of volunteers who were primarily committed to home defence but could volunteer for oversea service. He was posted on the 27 March for 15 days to the annual camp. He joined for active service on the 1 September 1939.
During the interwar period the Territorial Army in Chelmsford focused on training, recruitment and maintaining local defensive capabilities. Units like the 1/5th Battalion spent much of their time preparing for potential mobilization, including annual training camps and exercises. By the mid-1930s, some Territorial divisions were converted into anti-aircraft formations in response to emerging threats, reflecting the evolving military strategy. The TA remained a volunteer force, with members under no obligation to serve overseas unless they volunteered, though many did so.
The 1/5th Battalion began the war with the 161st Infantry Brigade. In December 1940, the Brigade was stationed in Sierra Leone from January to June 1941. The 1/5th Battalion merged with the 2/5th Battalion and served with the 18th Indian Infantry Brigade, part of the 8th Infantry Division. The Battalions saw service in Palestine, North Africa and Italy.
On the 25 June 1941 Horace with the Regiment embarked overseas to the Middle East. He served there until the 6 December 1941. On the 7 December he was in Iraq until the 26 April 1943. From there the Regiment was posted back to the Middle East on the following day until the 2 October 1943.
Following the defenestration of Mussolini on the 25 July 1943, the Germans started to believe in the worst; the landing of the Allied forces in Italy. They envisaged that a main landing could take place in the Gulf of Salerno, as it happened on the 9 September with the Avalanche Operation.
The Italian Campaign of World War II, also called the ‘Liberation of Italy’ following the German occupation in September 1943, consisted of Allied and Axis operations in and around Italy. The mainland was invaded in September.
In early November 1943, the British 8th Army under Montgomery pursued the enemy to the Sangro river. The advance to the Sangro was slow and hindered by extensive demolitions and bad weather. The 5th Battalion was engaged along the Sangro River, a key defensive line held by the German forces in the Abruzzo region of Italy. The river formed part of the Winter Line, which the Allies sought to breach to advance towards Rome. The fighting was intense, with the battalion facing well-entrenched German positions and harsh winter conditions.
GUSTAV LINE SANGRO RIVER
PRIVATE HORACE WAKELING
Death and Memorial
From the 3 October 1943 the Horace, as part of the British North Africa Force moved to North Africa, then on to Italy.
The 5th Battalion’s actions at the Sangro River contributed to the eventual Allied breakthrough in Italy. The Sangro River engagement exemplifies the courage and resilience of the 5th Battalion, highlighting their role in one of the critical phases of the Italian campaign during World War II.
On the 2 November, the Allies were in front of the Barbara Line, giving time for General Kesselring to complete the consolidation of the proper Gustav Line.
On the same day, Horace received a wound in the ankle and was mortally wounded again, whilst being carried away. He was 23 years old. He is buried at the Sangro River War Cemetery.
GRAVE PRIVATE HORACE JAMES WAKELING
COLL. GRAVE XIV. C. 33-35
SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY
The site of this cemetery was selected by the 5th Corps and into it were brought the graves of men who had died in the fierce fighting on the Adriatic sector of the front in November-December 1943, and during the static period that followed. In addition, the cemetery contains the graves of a number of escaped prisoners of war who died while trying to reach the Allied lines.
SANGRO RIVER WAR CEMETERY contains 2,617 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
Within the cemetery will be found the SANGRO RIVER CREMATION MEMORIAL, one of three memorials erected in Italy to officers and men of the Indian forces whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith - the other two cremation memorials are in Forli Indian Army War Cemetery and Rimini Gurkha War Cemetery. The memorial at Sangro River commemorates more than 500 servicemen.
The Medals Private Horace James Wakeling was awarded on the 8 December 1949 were the Africa Star, the Italy Star, the 1939-1945 Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal, 1939-45. These were sent to his mother.
WAR MEDALS HORACE WAKELING
Horace’s father died in January 1975 and his mother died in 1981.