Royal Garrison Artillery,
Killed in Action,
8th August 1917,
Age 27
Buries Voormezeele Enclosure No.3
Albert Hornung who died in action in the Great War. His parents, William and Barbara were Germans born around 1866 in Southern Germany. They came over to this country before their children were born and lived in Manchester. They had four sons: George William (1887), my Grandfather, Albert (1889), George (1890) and Albert (1891). All the sons were born in Prestwich. They must have moved to Haslingden in the early 1890s as their daughter Rosa was born in Haslingden in 1894.
The 1911 census shows the family living in 9/11 Church Street where the family ran a pork butchers shop. Before the war they opened another shop in Bank Street, Rawtenstall.
In 1912 William was naturalised, but had to report to the police station daily throughout the war.
All four sons served in the British Army. Albert was a gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery, 321st Siege Battery. On 7 August 1917 he was killed when he was hit by a shell near the village of Voormezeele in Belgium. He is buried there in Enclosure No 3 Grave XIV. B. 1.
Early on in the war due to the anti German feeling the family were forced to close the shops after windows had been broken. However after Albert's death I know that the Bank Street shop was reopened.
Albert worked in the Bank Street shop and prior to the war had moved to Edenfield. He maybe unique in that he appears on the Haslingden Municipal War Memorial in Haslingden Library, the Rawtenstall Memorial in the Cemetery and the Edenfield Memorial. He is also on the Manchester Road Methodist Memorial. (information kindly supplied by Paul Schofield - Great Nephew to Albert)
Newspaper Memorial
In affectionate remembrance of Gunner A. Hornung, killed by shell fire Aug. 8th in his 27th year.
When last we saw his smiling face
He looked so strong and brave
We little thought how soon he would
Be laid in a soldier's grave.
There is a link death cannot sever
Love and remembrance live for ever.
R.I.P
from his loving Father, Sister Brothers and Aunt. 77 Bank Street Rawtenstall.
Newspaper Memorial
In affectionate remembrance of Gunner A. Hornung, killed by shell fire Aug. 8th in his 27th year.
When last we saw his smiling face
He looked so strong and brave
We little thought how soon he would
Be laid in a soldier's grave.
There is a link death cannot sever
Love and remembrance live for ever.
R.I.P
from his loving Father, Sister Brothers and Aunt. 77 Bank Street Rawtenstall.
