Main CPGW Record
Surname: HILLARY
Forename(s): Horace
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: 11304
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 9th (Service) Battalion
Division: 17th (Northern) Division
Age: 20
Date of Death: 1916-07-13
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: B. "C." 987.
CWGC Cemetery: SKIPTON (WALTONWRAYS) CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Horace Hillary was the son of William Downham and Elizabeth Hillary, née Billows and brother of L/Corporal Harold Hillary (266958) (q.v.). Their father was born at Kettlewell and mother at Skipton, Yorkshire. Horace and Harold’s cousin, Jane Ashton, née Billows, was the mother of Private Thomas Ashton (28050) (q.v.). Horace and Harold were also cousins of Private John Hillary (2472) (q.v.); Private Frank Crossland Billows (15543) (q.v.) and T/2nd Lieutenant Thomas Billows Bellamy (q.v.).
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 1, Prospect Place - Horace Hillary, aged 5 years, born Skipton, son of William Downham and Elizabeth Hillary.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 1, Prospect Place - Horace Hillary, aged 15 years, born Skipton, son of William Downham and Elizabeth Hillary.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Horace Hillary, 11304, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (2B) Balkans. Date of entry therein: 7.7.15. D. of W. 13.7.16.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Horace Hillary, 11304, 8th W. Rid. R.; 9th W. Rid. R. D. of W. 13.7.16.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Horace Hillary, 11304, 9th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: 13.7.16. 2nd Western Gen. Hos. Manchester. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - William D. £16 1s. 6d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: joint card(s) exist for Horace and Harold. Name(s) on card(s): Mrs E. Hillary. Relationship to Man: Mother. Deceased. Dependant: Mr William Downham Hillary. Relationship to Man: Father. Address: 1, Prospect Place, Primrose Hill, Skipton, Yorks.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
HILLARY Horace, aged 20, Prospect Place, Skipton, wounded in action in France, died in Manchester Hospital, July 13, 1916.
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Private Horace HILLARY
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division
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Waltonwrays Cemetery, Skipton
CWGC Headstone
Waltonwrays Cemetery, Skipton
CWGC Headstone - personal inscription
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
27 August 1915
PRIVATE H. HILLARY
After serving for two months in the Dardanelles, Private Horace Hillary, of the 8th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, whose parents reside at 1, Prospect Place, Skipton, has forwarded a postcard home intimating that he has been wounded in the left foot and has arrived in England. The intimation was received by his parents on Tuesday, and from the post mark it appears that the card was posted at Southampton.
Private Hillary is the youngest son of Ex-Sergt. W. D. Hillary, formerly of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. He enlisted in August of last year at Skipton, and was sent to Halifax, where he was stationed for three weeks. Afterwards he was in training at Grantham and Milford.
Yesterday morning the parents of Private Hillary received a letter from him from the 1st Western General Hospital, Liverpool. The communication was as follows:– “Just a few lines to let you know I am getting on all right, and am in the best of health at present. No doubt you will think that I have soon got wounded, but you see we have been making a new landing at Suvla Bay, and it says in the papers that we had an easy task, as there were no forces to meet us. But when we landed the beach was swarming with Turks. We soon drove them back with the bayonets with not much loss on our side. That was at eleven o’clock on Friday night, August 6th. On the Saturday we were under shell fire all the day, and we lost a fair number of men. On the Sunday we did not see much fighting, but on the following day we commenced a terrible battle at daybreak, and I got a bullet through my foot about seven o’clock. Then I went through a good deal of pain, and I had to go about three miles to the nearest dressing station, but I arrived there all right about dinnertime. I had a mixture of hopping, rolling and crawling. We had no trenches out there, as we only landed three days prior to me being hit, and that was the reason we lost so many men. My foot is getting on very nicely now.”
14 July 1916
SKIPTON SOLDIER TWICE WOUNDED
Mrs. Hillary, of Prospect Place, Skipton, received information on Wednesday that her son, Pte. Horace Hillary, 9th West Riding Regiment, had been wounded in the recent fighting in France. The same soldier was also wounded in the Suvla Bay landing. He had been admitted to the 8th Stationery Hospital, B.E.F., France.
In a letter the matron says:– “Unfortunately his wounds in the right side and right leg are serious, and his condition in the meantime critical, but I hope that with the good nursing and treatment which he is receiving he may recover.”
14 July 1916
MORE SKIPTON CASUALTIES
Private Horace Hillary (youngest son of Mr. W. D. Hillary, of Prospect Place, Skipton), reported wounded on another page, succumbed to his injuries at Manchester Hospital yesterday (Thursday) morning.
21 July 1916
HILLARY – July 13th at Manchester Hospital as the result of wounds received in action, Pte. Horace Hillary, 9th West Riding Regiment, youngest son of Mr. W.D. Hillary, Prospect Place, Skipton, aged 20 years.
21 July 1916
MORE SKIPTON DEATHS – PRIVATE HILLARY SUCCUMBS TO HIS INJURIES
As briefly stated in our last issue, Private Horace Hillary, youngest son of Mr. W.D. Hillary, of Prospect Place, Skipton, succumbed to his injuries in the right side and right leg, received in the ‘big push’ at the Manchester Hospital on Thursday of last week. His parents went to Manchester on that day, but death had taken place when they arrived.
Only twenty years of age, deceased enlisted soon after the outbreak of war and took part in the historic landing at Suvla Bay, where he was wounded in the foot and invalided home.
He went out to France about 14 weeks ago, and had been attached to the 9th West Riding Regiment. He was formerly employed by Mr. Fred Anderton, mineral water manufacturer, Skipton.
The funeral took place on Monday afternoon at Waltonwrays Cemetery, the service being conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon Cook.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
27 August 1915
PRIVATE HILLARY OF SKIPTON, WOUNDED
On Wednesday morning Mr. Wm. D. Hillary of 1, Prospect Place, Primrose Hill, Skipton, received a postcard from his son, Private Horace Hillary, of the 8th West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment, stating that he had been wounded in the left foot in action in the Dardanelles, and had now been brought over to England.
14 July 1916
CRAVEN CASUALTIES IN THE GREAT ADVANCE
Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Hillary, of 1, Prospect Place, Skipton, on Wednesday last received a letter from the matron of the No. 8 Stationery Hospital, France, stating that their son, Private Horace Hillary, of the 9th West Riding Regiment, had been wounded in the right side and the right leg. His condition was critical, but she hoped with the good nursing and treatment he was receiving he would recover. Yesterday a letter was received from the sister-in-charge of the 2nd Western Hospital, Leaf Square, Pendleton, Manchester, as follows:– “Your son has been admitted to this hospital rather seriously wounded, and I have asked for a free railway warrant to be sent to you from headquarters. I don’t think there is anything serious just at present, but it would be wise for you to come over as soon as you can.”
Pte. Hillary, who is only 20 years of age, enlisted soon after the outbreak of war. He was formerly attached to the 8th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, and took part in the landing at Suvla Bay, where he was wounded in the foot. He went out to France about 14 weeks ago. He was formerly employed by Mr. Fred Anderton, mineral water manufacturer, of Skipton.
21 July 1916
HILLARY – July 13th at Pendleton, Manchester from wounds received in action, Pte. H. Hillary, of the 9th Battalion West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. W.D. Hillary, of Skipton, aged 20.
21 July 1916
CRAVEN CASUALTIES IN THE GREAT ADVANCE
Pte. Horace Hillary, of the 9th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, and son of Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Hillary, of 1 Prospect Place, Skipton, has died from wounds received in the recent heavy fighting at the 22nd Western Hospital, Leaf Square, Pendleton, Manchester. Last week Pte. Hillary’s parents received a letter from the sister-in-charge at the hospital stating that their son had been seriously wounded in the right side and leg, and was in a critical condition. They went to Manchester on Thursday of last week, but death had taken place when they arrived. Pte. Hillary, who was only 20 years of age, enlisted soon after the outbreak of war. He was formerly attached to the 8th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, and took part in the historic landing at Suvla Bay, where he was wounded in the foot and invalided home. He went out to France about 14 weeks ago. He was formerly employed by Mr. Fred Anderton, mineral water manufacturer, Skipton. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon at the Waltonwrays Cemetery, the officiating clergyman being Ven. Archdeacon Cook.
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