HORNE, John William
| Service Number: | 3294 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bothwell, Tasmania, Australia , 20 April 1896 |
| Home Town: | Longley, Kingborough, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Mouquet Farm, France, 3 September 1916, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Courcelette British Cemetery Plot VI, Row C, Grave No. 4. |
| Memorials: | Hobart Roll of Honour, Port Cygnet Soldiers Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3294, 26th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3294, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Hobart embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3294, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ajana, Hobart |
Help us honour John William Horne's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John William Horne was one of six brothers, all sons of Hannah Devonport, from Longley, Tasmania who enlisted during WW1. The youngest, James, was discharged underage before he served overseas.
Their father, Thomas Horne, had passed away in 1902 and their mother, Hannah, had remarried Samuel Devonport.
John transferred to the 52nd Battalion in Egypt during early 1916 and was listed as wounded and missing after the last attack on Mouquet Farm on 3 September 1916. He was confirmed as killed in action on 3 September 1916 during May 1917.
His remains were found and buried by a Canadian War Graves team during 1919 and reinterred in the Coucelette British Cemetery.
His brother, 158 Pte. Joseph William Horne 12th Battalion was an original Anzac had been shot in the leg at Gallipoli during August 1915 and sent home to Australia in 1916.
Other bothers who enlisted were 6749 Thomas Horne, 1312 Pte. Charles Horne (served as Horn) and 2336 Pte. Ernest George Horne.
The mother, Hannah, passed away in October 1917, but she wrote the following letter to Base Records two months before she died, on 7th August 1917.
“I would very much like to know if you could find out for one how my son Private J.W. Horne 52 Battalion was killed in France, it would relieve my mind a lot and how he was buried. Poor boy, he did his duty he was a brave boy. I had 6 sons and they all went to the front he is the only one I lost. I think I did my share from Tasmania. I would like to have had my poor boy’s Wristlet Watch. You will try and do what you can for one, you will oblige, Mrs. Devonport, Huon, Tasmania.”
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