Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Marcus and Celia Horne, of Hurlstone Park, New South Wales, Australia.

REMEMBERED BY HIS LOVING MOTHER, BROTHERS HARRY, ISIE AND SISTER MARIE

His name appears on the Hurlstone Park Roll of Honour

PILOT OFFICER A.E. HORNE, D.F.M.

Many young Jewish people in Australia knew Albert E. Horne [ Allbert Elliott Horne ], of Sydney. He was a well-known member of the Maccabean Hall, and as a tennis player he represented N.S. Wales in the interstate Jewish carnivals. Then he enlisted in the R.A.A.F.  He did his training as a wireless-air gunner in Canada, and when he was sent to England it was to join Bomber Command. His was a wide and hazardous experience. His operational flights took him to raids on Cologne, Essen, Duisburg and the Ruhr. He served in Hampdens, Lancasters, Wellingtons and in a Halifax, the other members of whose crew were Canadians.

Then came splendid news ‒ Flight-Sergeant Horne had been awarded a Distinguished Flying Medal.

The official citation ran:‒ “In all the operations in which he has participated, Flight Sergeant Horne has displayed untiring devotion to duty. On one occasion he was flying in an aircraft shadowing an  enemy convoy when it was attacked by three Junkers 88. “During the action Flight Sergeant Horne calmly put up a stout defence and by expert use of his gun made a valuable contribution to the  success of the encounter, as a result of which one enemy aircraft was destroyed and the others damaged and probably destroyed.”

Then came another gratifying item of news ‒ Flight Sergeant Home had been given a commission as Pilot Officer.

How his progress was appreciated by his pre-war colleagues at work is set out in the following letter sent to Pilot Officer Horne by Mr. J.W. Hughes, Federal Deputy Commissioner, and State Commissioner of Taxation:—

Dear Albert,

“It is with a feeling of deep elation that I extend to you, on behalf of myself and the staff of this Department, heartiest congratulations upon the award to you of the Distinguished Frying Medal. The  citation relating to the award afforded much gratification to me and your fellow officers in view of our past associations and as it is the first honour bestowed upon an officer of this Department during  the present conflict. Please accept also congratulations upon your well merited promotion to the rank of Pilot Officer. It is indeed pleasing to know that your good qualities are appreciated and that  you are maintaining the same earnestness and efficiency as was displayed by you in this Department. I trust that even greater honours may be conferred upon you and that you will continue to  advance within the Service. I sincerely hope that the present conflict may be successfully terminated within the near future, and that you will be with your fellow officers once more. Meanwhile may you be blessed with good fortune and safely negotiate the dangerous missions upon which you will undoubtedly be engaged.”

He was the youngest son of the late Marcus Horne and of Mrs. Horne, of Hurlstone Park.

Recently the mother of Pilot Officer Horne was officially informed that her son was reported missing as a result of air operations on the night of 13th-14th May over Europe.

‒ from page 4 of “The Hebrew Standard of Australasia” (Sydney) of 24 June 1943.