Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Benjamin Horton, a shoe trade riveter, born 1846 in Barrow upon Soar, Leics., and his wife Mary Jane Horton (nee Lord, married in the 2nd quarter of 1871 in the Blaby, Leics. district), a seamstress, born 1849 in Countesthorpe, Leics. Reuben Bertie Horton was a schoolboy and was born in the 4th quarter of 1886 in Blaby, Leics., his siblings were, Elijah, a shoe trade riveter, born 1876, Joseph Henry, born 1880, Rose Amelia, a schoolgirl, born 1883 and William, a schoolboy, born 1885, all his siblings were born in Blaby, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Chapel Street, Blaby, Leics. In March 1901 Bertie was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at Chapel Street, Blaby, Leics., together with his widowed mother and siblings, William, a shoe trade riveter and Rose, a stocking trade machinist. In April 1911 Bertie was a serving soldier and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India. Although officially recorded at birth as Reuben Bertie, he was always known and referred to as Bertie. Bertie enlisted into the Army on a Short Serice engagement of 9 years with the Colours and 9 years with the Reserve on the 14th August 1905 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Blaby, Leicestershire and his age as 18 years and 11 months, and his trade or calling as shoe hand. He expressed a wish to join the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He gave his mother, Mary, brother’s William and Elijah of Chapel Street, Blaby, Leicestershire and his sister, Mrs Fowkes of Littlethorpe Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4 inches in height, he weighed 114 pounds, and had a chest measurement of between 33 and 36 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and his eyes were grey. It was noted that he had a scar on the left side of his head 4 inches above the ear and slightly depressed. He also had a superficial scar on the outer aspect of his right thigh about the centre. He was pronounced fit for Army service. He gave his religion as Church of England. His record of service commenced when he joined the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 7736 at the Depot on the 16/8/05. Transferred to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 14/11/05. Granted Service Pay Class II on the 14/9/06. Embarked aboard SS Dongola for India on the 21/9/06. Stationed in Belaum, India on the 13/10/06. He passed the mounted infantry course on the 15/8/10. Stationed in Belgaum, India on the 13/2/11. Admitted to Hospital in India suffering from malaria on the 20/6/12. Discharged from Hospital on the 2/7/12. Sailed for England aboard R.I.M.S. Dufferin on the 21/11/12.Transferred to the Army Reserve. Brought home prematurely from India. Authy. W.O.L. on the 16/12/12. A summary of his military service was: Home Service, 11/8/05 – 20/9/06, 1 year 38 days. India, 21/9/06 – 12/12/12, 6 years 83 days. Home Service, 12/12/12 – 8/9/14, 1 year 270 days. Expeditionary Force, France, 9/9/14 – 19/6/15, 284 days Total service 9 years 310 days. The following information was provided on the 21st April 1919 by Bertie’s mother Mary and witnessed by F. H. Josalyne, a Clerk in Holy Orders at Blaby Rectory, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family). Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Mary Jane Horton of Chapel Street, Blaby, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, Elijah Horton, age 42 of Welford Road, Blaby, Leics., and William Horton, age 34 of Chapel Street, Blaby Leics. Full blood sisters of soldier, Rose Amelia Fowkes, age 36 of 51, Checketts Road, Belgrave Gate, Leicester. Berties surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary for this day records that after relieving the 2nd Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry on the 17th June, the Battalion were in trenches at Ferlorenmoer Road - Wieltje, quiet during the day, at 11.00pm the Germans commenced bombarding the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and the East Kent Regiment and our own right Company.
On Friday July 23rd 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR.” – EIGHT “TIGERS” KILLED. The following casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment (1st Battalion), are reported from the Base under date 3rd July:- Abbott, 10175, Private G. S. Brownlow, 6058, Private A. Henry, 8856, Lance Corporal C. Horton, 7736, Private B. Morris, 7355, Private G. Smalley, 12064, Private J. T. W. Wale, 7291, Private J. Watts, 6663, Private C.