Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Hand an ironstone quarry worker, born 1849 in Barkestone le Vale, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Alice Hand (nee Scarborough, formerly Cross, married in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1856 in Long Clawson, Leicestershire. Horace was born on the 13th January 1897 in Long Clawson and baptised on the 30th January 1898 in Long Clawson Parish Church, his half blood siblings were, Ernest, born 1888 and Arthur, born 1890, both his half blood siblings were born in Barkestone le Vale, also residing in the family home were his step siblings Gertrude Cross, born 21st January 1889 and baptised on the 5th July 1896 in Long Clawson Parish Church and Elsie Alice Cross, born April 1893 and baptised on the 5th July 1896 in Long Clawson Parish Church, the latter two step siblings were both born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Melton Road, Long Clawson. In April 1911 Horace was residing in the family home at Melton Road, Long Clawson, together with his father, an iron stone fitter and his mother. Horace’s father had previously married Alice Cross on the 13th February 1868 in Long Clawson Parish Church, the children of this marriage were, Rose, born 1869 in Long Clawson, Henry, born 1876 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, Herbert, born 1878 and Grace, born 1881 in Bottesford, Leicestershire, Ernest, born 1888 and Arthur, born 1890, the latter two children were born in Long Clawson. Horace’s mother, Sarah Alice Scarborough had married Joseph Cross on the 26th November 1874 in Long Clawson Parish Church, the children of this marriage were, Annie, born 1875, Percy, born 1883, the latter two children were born in Long Clawson, Gertrude, born 1889 and Elsie Alice, born 1893, the latter two children were both born in Melton Mowbray. Sarah’s husband Joseph died in 1894 aged 41 and was interred on the 16th March 1894 in Long Clawson.
Horace attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservist’s) for the Duration of the War on the 9th December 1915 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as Long Clawson, Leicestershire and his age as 18 years and 343 days. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7½ inches in height, weighed 125 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35 inches. His physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. After attestation on the 9/12/15 in Melton Mowbray he was transferred as Private, service number 38664 to the Army Reserve. Mobilized on the 30/6/17. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 30/6/17. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Patrington on the 5/7/17. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 3/11/17. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 3/11/17. Joined the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 27/11/17. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals. Horace’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer 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 records: 17-21-Mar-18 - FRONT LINE, EPEHY. The Battalion moved into the front line on the night of March 17th, relieving the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. The enemy’s attitude still remained abnormal, and prisoners obtained by means of raids gave the date for the attack as the 21st or 22nd. Hostile patrols were seen or encountered in no man’s land and the extraordinary inactivity of the hostile artillery was still maintained. The weather was extremely fine, and had been so for the previous week, under the warm and continued sunshine, the ground became very dry and firm, heavy ground mists were prevalent during the early mornings. At 1.00 am on the morning of the 21st March, a patrol of 1 officer and 20 other ranks was sent out by “C” Company to obtain an identification. This patrol met with no opposition whatever and on his return the officer in charge was able to report that not a single German had been seen. At 4.30 am the hostile shelling ended its long period of inactivity and commenced a heavy bombardment of the Divisional front and to the north and south, high explosive and large quantities of gas shell were used on the front line system, the village of EPEHY and the Batteries. Very heavy shelling of villages in our back areas also took place, and it quickly became evident that the artillery preparation for an attack on a large scale was in progress. The gas bombardment was particularly severe, mustard gas being used, all ranks were compelled to wear their box respirators for at least 3 hours. When daylight came just after 6.00 am it was quite impossible to see the wire in front of the trenches on account of the thickness of the mist, a great disadvantage was thus experienced, the necessity for good observation being absolutely vital to the defenders. Towards 9.00 am the hostile artillery lifted the greater part of the fire from our front line system, and placed a -?- barrage west of EPEHY on the Battery positions and all approaches. Telephone communications with two of the front line Companies “C” and “D” were still working and no enemy impending attack had been reported, the thick mist still continued and observation was impossible. During the preparatory bombardment very few casualties were sustained by the Battalion and all ranks were fully prepared for the appearance of the hostile infantry. At 9.30 am the enemy infantry advanced to the attack, in accordance with the order to man battle stations the front line garrison had been withdrawn to the immediate support line, and the attack on the Battalion sector was everywhere repelled with heavy loss to the enemy. The enemy was content to hold for the line, our original front line, where he was subjected to a heavy and accurate rifle grenade and Lewis gun fire. Visibility still continued to be impossible and Forward Observation Officers were unable to inform their Batteries of the position of the hostile infantry or even give any clear idea of the situation. During the course of the morning the mist lifted slightly and at intervals strong forces of the enemy could be seen advancing towards ROHNSOY and LEMPIRE on our right. The 16th Division on our right were compelled to withdraw some distance to conform with the line on their right. Strong bombing attacks were made against our right flank held by “A” Company, on two occasions the enemy forced their way into “A” Company’s trenches, but were immediately ejected by vigorous counter bombing. Towards 1.00 pm a lull occurred in the fighting on the Battalion front and meanwhile the mist had cleared. Large forces of the enemy could be seen moving west through ROHNSOY and LEMPIRE, and large concentrations of his infantry were seen massing in the valleys east of our front line and in the neighbourhood of VAUCELETTE FARM and VILLERS GUISLAIN. During the afternoon reports received showed that the enemy has broken through our defensive system on the right and were advancing rapidly, the enemy was everywhere held on the 110th Brigade front. Towards 5.00 pm the enemy commenced to trench mortar the support line, the fire being heavy and accurate, and at 6.00pm a withdrawal was made to the RED LINE just east of EPEHY to conform with the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on our left who had been driven out of their support line and to link up with the left Battalion of the 16th Division on our right. The night of March 21st/22nd March passed without any further attack on the front of the hostile infantry, but the enemy artillery displayed great activity during the night chiefly on the approaches to EPEHY and the back areas.
On Friday May 17th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – The official casualty lists issued during the past week have included a very large number of Leicester’s, also of names of local men belonging to other regiments. Among them have been the following relating to this district, all being privates unless otherwise stated:- From Monday’s list:- Killed. – Leicestershire Regt. Cooper, 18735 J. (Melton Mowbray). Hands, 38664 H. (Long Clawson). Johnson, 11728 Corpl. W. (Syston). Woodcock, 15940 (Melton Mowbray).