Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Captain R. A. Hornby, 21st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, killed in action at Sailly-sur-Lys, 9 April 1918

British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. A. Hornby.) nearly extremely fine (2) £60-80

Richard Arthur Hornby was born in 1877 in Peckham, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Hornby, of Craiglands, 43, Honor Oak Road, London, SE. He was educated at the University of London, was admitted as a Barrister-at-law, to the Middle Temple in 1898 whilst a stockbrokers’ clerk, and was called to the Bar in 1901. In 1903 he was admitted to the London Stock Exchange, a stockbroker on his own account based in old Broad Street, EC. He married Florence Vera Newman in 1912 at St George’s, Hanover Square and lived at The Chantry, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire.
Hornby was commissioned in the 15th Battalion Middlesex Regiment in November 1914. He served with the Middlesex Regiment in France from 17 April 1916 and was wounded, missing, presumed killed in action on 9 April 1918 whilst serving with the 21st Battalion Middlesex Regiment. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. He is also commemorated on the Middle and Inner Temple War Memorial, Temple Church, London, the Stock Exchange War Memorial, Sawbridgeworth War Memorial and Great St Mary’s Church Memorial Cross, Sawbridgeworth.

The 21st Battalion Middlesex Regiment suffered 66 fatal casualties on 9 April 1918, and casualties for the month as a whole were such that on 5 May 1918 the battalion strength was reduced to a cadre.