Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Orlando James Price, a shoe trade clicker, born 1868 in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann Price (nee Armstrong married on the 2nd April 1888 in the Parish Church, Earl Shilton)), born 1868 in Earl Shilton. Horace was born on the 2nd January 1898 in Earl Shilton, his siblings were, Florence, born 22nd February1890 and baptised on the 13th April 1890 in the Parish Church Earl Shilton, Walter, born 5th April 1892 and baptised on the 21st November 1892 in the Parish Church, Earl Shilton and Stanley, born 1899 and baptised on the 10th September 1899 in the Parish Church Earl Shilton, all his siblings were born in Earl Shilton, in March 1901 the family home was at 38, Hinckley Road, Earl Shilton. In April 1911 Horace was employed as a hosiery trade worker and was residing in the family home at 41, Station Road, Earl Shilton, together with his father, a shoe trade clicker, his mother a char woman and his siblings, Walter, a shoe trade clicker and Stanley, a schoolboy. The family later resided at The Laurels, Station Road, Earl Shilton. His older brother Walter was killed in action on the 9th October 1917.
Horace enlisted on the 17th August 1915 and embarked to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on the 16th February 1916, joining the Base Depot at Mudros on the 28th February 1916, and was then transferred to join his unit, the Anson Battalion on the 21st March 1916 at Stavros, serving with this unit until the 7th April 1916, when he was posted to the Base Depot at Mudros. He then proceeded to Kassandra on the 20th April 1916 and remained there until the 30th May 1916, when he re-joined the Base Depot at Mudros. He was posted to the Hood Battalion on the 14th June 1916 and then posted to the Drake Battalion on the 31st July 1916, serving with this unit until he was reported missing, later reported as killed in action on the 13th November 1916.
The War Diary records: 13-14 Nov-16 – IN FRONT OF HAMEL SECTOR. 5.45am ZERO. Guns on left bank of river ANCRE commenced slightly before our barrage which caused the enemy to open minnenwerfer fire at ZERO, when our men advanced. Barbed wire in front of enemy front lines was thick in places making it necessary to pass through the gaps in small parties. Enemy front line was passed over and appeared to have been unoccupied by the enemy. Second line was found to be occupied by small parties on the left of our sector. While passing through this line Lieutenant Colonel A. S. TETLEY was mortally wounded and several other officers were also killed and wounded. Owing to the mist and darkness combined with the smoke and dust, direction and control became extremely difficult. The third enemy trench was passed over without opposition and the advance continued with a mixture of the DRAKE Battalion, HOOD Battalion and a Battalion of the HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY toward the GREEN LINE. About 6.15am daylight set in and the STATION became visible on our right. We changed direction half right and captured the STATION, meeting with Machine Gun opposition, and enemy Machine Gun and ammunition were captured and used against the enemy. One hundred and two prisoners were captured in dugouts behind the right of the ridge Q.18.a.95. The barrage was followed closely by the first and second waves until the GREEN LINE was captured. In order to strengthen the HOOD Battalion for the advance against the YELLOW LINE the DRAKE’S advanced with the HOOD’S. On arriving at about 100 yards from the YELLOW LINE no further advance was possible owing to our own barrage still dwelling on that line. We started to consolidate our position and during the work orders were received from the Brigade that the barrage would not lift from YELLOW LINE owing to troops on our left being held up. At this time we lost one officer and several men killed, owing to our own heavies falling about 100 yards short of YELLOW LINE. It appeared that the YELLOW LINE was not occupied and we were convinced that BEAUCOURT could have been captured and the final objective attained. During the afternoon of the 13th the enemy appeared to occupy the YELLOW LINE and his Machine Guns and snipers became active which caused delay in consolidating and wiring of our position. Up till about 7.00pm the enemy’s shelling was feeble. After this the enemy’s artillery opened with heavies and shrapnel and continued to subject our line to this fire until relieved. We were in support to the HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY during the capture of BEAUCOURT-SUR-ANCRE on the morning of the 14th at 7.45.
SUMMARY:- Our men’s morale was excellent throughout the whole operation and they kept right up to the barrage without flinching. Although exhausted owing to the heavy condition of the ground, the men carried forward their battle equipment, including the ten Battalion Lewis Guns which were invaluable in the defences of our position. Supply of bombs and ammunition was good. A captured enemy ration dump was found of great value. Enemy tools and barbed wire were used to good effect. The river supplied us with water, and captured rum was issued to the men. The relief arrived at 2.00am on the morning of the 15th. Throughout the operations the 39th Division were operating on our immediate right and the 188th Supply Brigade on our left with the 190th Supply Brigade in Divisional Reserve.
During the operations this Battalion lost the following Officers:-
KILLED.
Lieutenant Commander P. A. CAMPBELL.
Sub Lieutenant J. H. U. NEWALL.
Sub Lieutenant J. A. LANGFORD.
Sub Lieutenant H. A. FOSTER.
WOUNDED.
Lieutenant J. W. TURRELL.
Sub Lieutenant N. B. SENNETT.
Sub Lieutenant D. A. F. PHILPOT.
Sub Lieutenant A. E. DOSSETT.
Sub Lieutenant J. MACKY.
Sub Lieutenant G. W. WHITTAKER.
Sub Lieutenant R. F. ROLLINSON.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
Lieutenant Colonel A. S. TETLEY.
MISSING BELIEVED KILLED.
Sub Lieutenant C. W. R. BRADLEY.
SHELL SHOCK.
Lieutenant C. E. CONSTABLE.
In addition to the above the following casualties occurred in the ranks:-
15 KILLED. 151 WOUNDED. 28 MISSING. 1 DIED OF WOUNDS. 1 SHELL SHOCK.