Name
Horace Leslie Pike
Circa 1987
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/11/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/6926
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 2C
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
It is believed that Horace was born around 1898 in Henlow, Beds. His parents were Edwin and Lizzie Pike. Although they have not been found together in any census.
In 1901 Lizzie (32) and her children were living at Alleyns Road, Stevenage. The children present were Lizzie (7), Horace Leslie (3) and Algar H (6 months). Edwin was absent and Lizzie was described as the head of household and living on own means.
At first look, Horace’s father’s absence in 1901 might be explained by the Henlow workhouse record dated March 3rd, 1906. That sadly records the family, consisting of Lizzie (a washerwoman and 39), Edwin (14), Beatrice (12), Horace (8), Algar (5), Teresa (3) and Stanley (1), were living in the workhouse. It also records that her husband, Edwin (49) was a carpenter, but had deserted her and his family. However, Stanley’s age of 1 suggests that Edwin and Lizzie were still together in 1904/5.
By 1911 the family were living at High Street, Arlesey. Lizzie was still present as the lone parent. The census recorded that she had been married for 19 years with 7 children, of whom 1 had died. The children still present were Horace, now 13 and working as an errand boy, Algar, Teresa and new children Eric (3) and Edith aged 9 months. Perhaps the new children mean that Edwin was still around?
Officially Horace was recorded as born in Arlesey, Beds. and was living there when he enlisted in Hitchin, Herts.
Horace’s Hitchin connection was found in the service record of his brother Algar who enlisted in 1915 and was discharge in 1916, and survived the war. Lizzie was given has his next of kin and was living at 28 Balmoral Road, Hitchin, when he enlisted. So presumably the family were all living in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Horace was allocated Regimental Number 4/6926 six months before the war commenced. He was sent to the 4th Battalion of the Bedfords and was originally posted as missing believed wounded in action but was later presumed killed in action.
On that day of his presumed death the Battalion took part in an attack towards Beaucourt on the ground between the River Ancre and Beaumont Hamel facing north-east. The German trenches were approximately 200 yards distant. There were over 100 casualties in the Battalion on that day.
He has no known grave and is remembered on 2C of the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
After his death £5 12s 11d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother on 10 December 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £16 was authorised to be paid to her on 19 August 1920. However, there is a note to the effect that they had over issued by £6, which they noted should be recovered from any further credits (if any).
His pension cards record his mother, as his next of kin, living at 28 Balmoral Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 5s a week from 6 November 1918.
Shew must have moved to 10 Balmoral Road, Brampton Park, Hitchin, as the 1921 census records her there and then a pension card stamped 12 September 1929, records that address.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
