William Ernest Horner

William Ernest Horner, known as Ernest, was born in 1897 the son of Joshua Alfred a secretary of Nottingham Trading Assurance Ltd and Eunice Horner (née Brown) of 12, Ebers Road, Mapperley Park, Nottingham. William's parents were born at Nottingham, Joshua Alfred in 1870, Eunice in 1874.

William attended High Pavement School between 31st August 1909 and 11th July 1913 when he became a clerk employed by Boots.

William Ernest Horner enlisted at Nottingham. On 13th March 1917, 1/7th Bn Sherwood Foresters were in the line near Gommecourt, a section where they had taken part in the still controversial diversionary attack on the opening day of the Somme battle. The War Diary entry for 13/3/1917 (TNA WO95/2694/2) records a grim reminder of that action:' The bodies of 2/Lt WE Flint and 2/Lt Gamble who were killed in action on 1st July were brought in from the wire and buried in Fouquevillers Cemetery by the chaplain.' The battalion was deployed on March 13th to provide cover for an advance by other units. 'The attack was carried out at 1am,' notes the diary, 'under a heavy artillery barrage. Our covering parties retired according to orders when the attacking force went through and, in spite of an intense enemy barrage on Biez Wood, suffered few casualties.' Most unusually, the diary lists seven other ranks killed or died of wounds during this action. One named was WE Horner 'B'Coy [listed as 'Strength Decrease'] who died at 43rd Casualty Clearing Station early on 14/3/1917. David Nunn He is buried at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery Grave Reference: V.D.12.

Nottingham Evening Post (abridged) 16 March 1917: 'Horner. On the 14th Inst, died of wounds, Ernest son and only child of AJ and Eunice Horner, 12 Ebers Road.' Inscription on family headstone Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery: 'Also their dear son Ernest, killed in action France 1917.'