Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mr and Mrs James Horne of 54, Albert Street, Coalville, Leics., and the husband of Mary A. Horne. The War Diary entry for the 24th March 1918 records. HAPLINCOURT. At 8.50am. Enemy barrage opened on our front line, enemy observed massing behind ridge in I.23.d. and 24.c. At 9.35am. Barrage lifted and enemy attacked front of CHESHIRE REGT on our left. At 10.30am CHESHIRE REGT driven back about 200 yards, they were rallied and with assistance of a platoon of our “C” Company made a counter attack, which was successful in driving the enemy back to the ridge in I.23.d. and 24.c. At 2.00pm. Hostile attack launched against entire front, troops well on our right observed retiring in large numbers in direction of HAPLINCOURT. 17th ROYAL FUSILIERS on our right attempted to hold these men up and make a counter attack, but this did not materialise. By this time the CHESHIRE REGT had fallen back leaving our left flank in the air. Our “C” Company retired shortly after the CHESHIRE REGT apparently along the LE BUCQUIER – FREMICOURT ROAD, where they were apparently cut off as none of them returned to the Battalion. Companies were then ordered to retire on Battalion Headquarters and to line the sunken road running through I.33.b., covering fire was given by details of Battalion Headquarters. The Companies were then ordered to fall back in extended order and take up a position on the ridge running through O.3.a. Battalion retired in four lines at large intervals. Lt. Col. ALBAN, D.S.O. remaining with the last party, consisting of a few Battalion Headquarters details and the Medical Officer and Signalling Officer. By the time the last party left, the enemy had managed to place some machine guns and snipers in some huts and tents within about 200 yards of Battalion Headquarters and this made the retirement from this position to the ridge behind very difficult, as about 700 yards of open ground covered by heavy machine gun and rifle fire, had to be crossed. Shortly after leaving this position Lt. Col. ALBAN, D.S.O. was hit and Captain Williams, M.C., Medical Officer helped him along, when they had gone about 50 yards the Commanding Officer was wounded again. This time more seriously. The Medical Officer with the assistance of 2nd Lt. BONA, and a stretcher bearer carried the Commanding Officer the remainder of the distance, not withstanding the heavy fire which was directed upon them. The position along ridge in O.3.a. for a short while until orders were given to retire on BEAULENCOURT. Position was taken up on the south east of the village of BEAULENCOURT in support to some of the 51st Division. The enemy at this time were reported to be holding LE TRANSLOY. Orders were received shortly afterwards for all troops to evacuate the position. The remnants of the Battalion moved back through GUEDECOURT to FLERS, where the Battalion almost ran into a party of the enemy, from this point Battalion marched across country to EAUCOURT L’ABBAYE, and took up a position along sunken road in N.13.a. south east of LE BARQUE. This position was held from about 10pm to 5.00am.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 10th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Lance-Corporal P. V. Horne, South Staffs, previously reported killed, is now officially reported missing.

Coalville Times article - Friday May 24th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mrs Horne, of Ashby Road, Coalville, has received a letter concerning her husband’s death from the Corporal of his section. The letter reads, “Your husband was a Lewis gunner in one of my sections, and he was one of the few men I could always trust. No better soldier every came to France, and we all miss him very much. He was a very quiet sort, and never had much to say. It is very painful for me to write you this news concerning his death. He was hit through the head twice, and died instantly, suffering no pain. He met his death fighting like a man whilst firing his gun. Accept my deepest sympathy, and from all the boys left in the team.”

Coalville Times article - Friday March 28th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of Mr Dear Husband, Lance-Corporal P. V. Horne, killed in action, March 24th, 1918.

“Not now but in the coming years,
It may be in the better land,
We’ll know the meaning of our tears,
And then, ah then, we’ll understand.”

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 15/2/2018