Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Thomas Randle, a shoe trade riveter, born 7th September 1873 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire and his wife Eliza Randle (nee White, married in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in the Leicester district), born 1876 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire. Horace was born in the 3rd quarter of 1898 in Syston, Leicestershire his siblings were, Arthur William, born 28th May 1897 and Hilda Mary, born 5th April 1900, both his siblings were born in Syston, in March 1901 the family home was in Bath Street, Syston. In April 1911 Horace was residing in the family home at 12, Rutland Street, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a furnace man, his mother and siblings, Arthur, an errand boy, Hilda, Evelyn May, born 18th December 1901 in Syston, Mabel Muriel, born 1905, Frederick Thomas, born 1909 and Doris Esme, born 1910, the latter three siblings were born in Melton Mowbray.
Horace also had the following younger siblings, Elsie L., born 5th May 1912, Gladys I., born 1917 and Florence Edna, born 21st August 1918, all the siblings were born in Melton Mowbray.
The War Diary records: 16 Oct-18 – At 5.20am the Brigade on our left made a very successful attack on NAUSSY reaching the Eastern outskirts of the village. The results of this, however, was that a large gap was left between their right and our left. About mid-day No.4 Company was rushed up to fill this gap, but no sooner had they reached the village than a very heavy hostile barrage was put down on the whole area. They had, however, just reached their position when the enemy counter-attacked. The troops on their left gave way and they were completely surrounded. They fought their way back as best they could, but only about 30 reached the Railway. They were taken in charge by the EAST SURREY REGIMENT and finally towards evening established posts on the Western outskirts of the village. No.1 Company brought quite effective Machine Gun fire to bear on the enemy while they were advancing from the opposite crest, but the enemy soon became out of range, and observation; reaching the village 2nd Lieutenant H. C. CHALMERS was wounded and so was able to be evacuated safely. Captain G. H. SMITH, M.C., was hit in the shoulder and was removed to a cellar. Both Captain SMITH and 2nd Lieutenant C. I. F. VINCENT were both unfortunately missing. Patrols went out in the evening to look for wounded, but without result, and the remainder of No.4 Company were collected and amalgamated with No.1 Company.
Casualties were:- 9 men killed. 13 wounded and 12 missing. Battalion Headquarters moved during the afternoon to huts in a sunken road near the late German Pioneer Dump.
On Friday November 8th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – PRIVATE H. RANDALL KILLED. Mr. and Mrs. Randall, of 10, Rutland-st., Melton Mowbray received official information on Wednesday that their son, Pte. H. Randall, of the Coldstream Guards, was killed in action on October 16th. Prior to enlistment Private Randall was employed on the Midland Railway at Attenboro Station previous to which he had been a porter at Melton.