The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (unsuccessful) (Capt. John G. Horne, R.M.L.I. 26th Nov. 1915) with bronze buckle on ribbon, in case of issue bearing a metal label, ‘Captain John G. Horne, R.M.L.I. 26 Nov. 1915’, suspension tightened, good very fine £150-200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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‘At 4 p.m. on the 26th November, 1915, a rowing-boat struck a rock, filled and sank about 80 yards from the shore at Mudros, throwing its occupant, Patrick Kilty, into the heavy sea running. Capt. John G. Horne and Pte. David Wray swam out, but finding him dead returned to land, having much difficulty in getting out.’ (R.H.S. Case No. 42,316).

John Gilbert Horne was born on 2 December 1878 and was educated at Bedford College. He joined the R.M.L.I. in 1897 as a 2nd Lieutenant. Promoted to Lieutenant in July 1898, he was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor-General of Western Australia in February 1903, a post he retained until promoted to Captain in June 1905. From 1905 to 1915 he served on the China Station. During this time he studied Japanese in Japan and became an interpreter. During the war he took part in the blockade, bombardment and capture of Tsingtao, August-November 1914; was then at the Suez Canal, January 1915; the Dardanelles bombardment and capture of the outer forts, February-March 1915; bombardment of Smyrna, 8-15 March 1915; and was present at the landing of the Australians at Anzac, 25 April 1915. He was on the battleship Triumph when she was torpedoed and sunk by the U.21 off Gaba Tepe, Dardanelles, 25 May 1915.

Horne and other R.M. survivors were then sent to Mudros to man the boom defences, May 1915-January 1916. Whilst there he was involved in a rescue attempt which resulted in the award of the Royal Humane Society Medal in Bronze. Appointed a Major in April 1916, Horn then served as Naval Vice-Consul at Bilbao, January-June 1917. He was then C.O. of the R.M. Guard at Corfu, July-November 1918. After the war he was for a time Senior Officer R.M. aboard the battleship Barham and then Superintendent of the Royal Naval School of Music. In 1925 he joined the staff of the C-in-C. Portsmouth and after six months was posted to Eastney Barracks. Horne attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel with the Chatham Division in February 1927 but died suddenly from heart failure on 10 August 1929. He was buried in Gillingham New Cemetery.

In addition to the Royal Humane Society Medal, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.

With copied service papers, R.H.S. extracts and other research.