George Hornsby is included in this section as he is on the Absent Voters Lists of 1918 and1919 of Saxlingham Nethergate. His address at that time was Saxlingham Green. He is not on the War Memorial so it is presumed that after the war he did not return to live in Saxlingham.
George was born in Sawtry, Huntingdonshire in 1893 to Sarah Eliza and John Hornsby.
He came from a large family and had nine siblings.
Walter John born 1895
Ernest Albert born 1898
Charles Laxton born 1900
Elizabeth Jane born 1902
Cecil James born 1907
Ivy Miriam born 1909
Clare Alice born 1912
Ellen Sarah born 1915
In 1901 the family lived in Ailsworth, Huntingdonshire and his father was working as a blacksmith’s labourer. In 1911 their address is given as Pond Cottage Ailsworth and George was working as a farm labourer. His father had changed occupations and was a woodman on a farm.
On 2 December 1911 George aged 18 years and 11 months joined the Lancers, Service number 3693 in Peterborough.
As a regular soldier he embarked for France on 15 August 1914. He was wounded on 3 November 1914 and listed on 25 November as being entitled to wear a wound stripe. His service records have not survived so it is not known in what way he was wounded. It is presumed that he was sent back to England to recuperate.
He married Ellen Fulcher in Peterborough on 4 February 1915. Ellen’s family came from and lived in Saxlingham Nethergate. Her parents were Frederick and Jessie Fulcher. Her father was a farm labourer. She was born on 13 September 1894 and baptised in the local church. In 1911 she was working as a servant for a family in Norwich. Her mother had died in 1897 when Ellen was only three years old. It is not known when or where Ellen met George Hornsby but it must have been before he embarked to France as their first child, Jessie, was born on 22 February 1915 in Peterborough only a few weeks after they were married.
George transferred to the Machine Gun Corps on 10 April 1917 and he served in Mesapotamia between 29 May 1917 and 18 January 1919. His service number was 47888. During this time he was promoted to sergeant and transferred to the Royal Tank Corps, his service number being 7816102.
As he is on the Absent Voters List for 1918 and 1919 it is assumed that whilst he was away in Mesapotamia Ellen returned to live with her family in Saxlingham Nethergate.
Ellen and George had six more children after Jessie
George Frederick born 14 May 1917 in Henstead Norfolk (He was a gunner and was killed 25 July 1945 in Austria)
Mabel Grace born 13 September 1920 in Henstead
Ernest W born 27 June 1922 in Crowland
Evelyn Gladys born 16 March 1924
Barbara Doris born 13 September 1927
Derrick born 1931
George remained in the Army until 1 December 1923. The family lived in Jansor, Peterborough. He re- enlisted in the Army reserves in December 1925.
In 1939 the family were living at 9 Orton Avenue, Woodston, Old Fletton, Huntingdonshire. Six of their children were still living at home.
George died on 3 February 1942 at British Thomas Houston Works, Woodston, Peteborough. He was 49 years old and was working as an aircraft assembler. The death was recorded as heart failure as a result of natural causes. His son George Frederick was listed as being the informant of his death.
Ellen continued to live in the area and in 1953 Ellen married Edward J Whitehead.She died in The Memorial Hospital on 5 May 1967 aged 72 years old. Probate was granted to her son, Ernest William Hornsby, engineer.
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriage, death index 1837-2005
UK Census Collection
British Army Medal Roll Index cards, 1914-1920
1939 Register- www.findmypast.co.uk
Norfolk Electoral Rolls-Southern Division Saxlingham Nethergate and Thorpe, (Absent Voters Lists 1918-1920)
Norfolk, Church of England Diocesan Baptismal Records, Saxlingham Nethergate.
Royal Tank Corps Enlistment Records 1919-1934 . www.findmypast.co.uk
Crawley Family Tree. www.ancestry.co.uk
England and Wales National Probate Calendar 1858-1995
If anyone has any photographs or information about this person please contact me. Email jan@janmfox.co.uk