Name
Horace Karl Leaney
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/02/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
30858
Bedfordshire Yeomanry
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BISCOT (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD
51
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials, Bedford Yeomanry Memorial, Bedford, Leagrave, Limbury And Biscot, Leagrave, Bedfordshire
Pre War
Horace Karl Leaney was born in 1887 in Hemel Hempstead, the son of Thomas and Eliza Leaney. He was one of nine children, although five had died by 1911.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at 3 Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead and his father was working as a bricklayer. They remained in Chapel Street on the 1901 Census, having moved to no. 4, which his father still working as a bricklayer. Horace was listed as Harry.
He married Mary Ann Osborne on 26 September 1908 at Luton Parish Church and on the 1911 Census he was living with his wife and children, Thomas and Dorothy at Oak Road, Leagrave, Beds and Horace was working as a Railway Porter. They later had two more children, William Horace and Arthur James.
His parents remained at 4 Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead on the 1911 Census.
Wartime Service
Horace enlisted in Bedford and joined the 3/1st Bedford Yeomanry and was sent to Colchester for training.
He was wounded in action in May 1917 and had been in hospital ever since. He died from pneumonia on 1 February 1918 at Shoreham-by-Sea, Military Hospital in Sussex, aged 30.
His was buried in Biscot (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Luton, Beds on 8 February 1918.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £12 and pay owing of £11 11s 2d. She also received a pension of £1 13s 9d a week for herself and her children. Worldwar1luton.com website has a group photo of the 3/1 Beds Yeomanry which includes Horace.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.roll-of-honour.com., www.worldwar1luton.com.
