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 528081 54th Division, Signal Company, Royal Engineers
Horace Sore was born in Great Cornard on 30 July 1894, the son of Arthur George and Eliza Sore (née Sergeant). His father was employed as a brewer’s labourer and the family lived in Broom Street in Great Cornard, before they later moved to 82 East Street in Sudbury. Horace had six brothers and three sisters. At the age of 16 Horace was employed as a winder for William Armes & sons (Matting Factory).
Horace enlisted as a Territorial soldier in 1911 to serve four years with 5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (formerly 1220). He served at home until he was mobilised with the signaller section of the regiment and landed in Gallipoli in August 1915. He later transferred to the Royal Engineers and was granted six weeks leave in November 1916 and embarked for England from Alexandria to spend time at home. He rejoined his regiment in March 1917 and was reported missing believed killed in action six weeks later.
All his brothers saw service during the war: the eldest served in India, another was later discharged, one was a Drum Major, one served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, and another served in Egypt. His brother Ernest lost his life serving with the King’s Dragoon Guards near Ypres in 1915. His cousin Ezekiel Thomas Sore from Hartest lost his life serving as a Drummer with the Norfolk Regiment in 1916 fighting in Mesopotamia.
Horace died aged 22 on 19 April 1917. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
After his death Horace was recommended for a Victoria Cross, the highest gallantry award. A report appeared in the Suffolk and Essex Free Press in May 1917:
‘Mrs. Sore, East Street, Sudbury has received two letters from NCOs describing the gallant feat of her son Pte. Horace Sore in the East. Sgt. Gordon Parker writes ‘I write to offer you the sympathy of all the men of this section on the death of your son. On the morning of the attack your son went forward with others to lay a cable. After coming under heavy shell fire they reached and crossed the road, but were counter-attacked and compelled to give ground. At this point he had just connected the instrument and phoned back asking permission to cut the telegraph wires running on the poles alongside the road. This was granted and although there were no troops between him and the enemy whose guns were only 300 or 400 yards away, he climbed up the pole and cut the wires. He was blown down by a shell, but without hesitation he swarmed up again and cut the other wire when he was hit by a second shell. It was a magnificent act typical of your son and the Brigadier recorded it as ‘a very fine performance indeed’ and your son’s name has gone forward for recognition. An NCO wounded close to your son says he passed away without regaining consciousness’.
Another NCO wrote: ‘Your son was absolutely devoid of fear and during the time he had been with my section he had won the esteem of all. I shall find him hard to replace’.
A memorial service was held at St. Peter’s Church and in a later letter received by his mother it says ‘your son was recommended by the Brigadier for the Victoria Cross and we hope it may be awarded. Unfortunately in this case it was impossible to recover the body or identification disc and the NCO who was close to him has since died. It is hoped the difficulty may be overcome and that the memory of Sudbury’s gallant son will be justly honoured’.
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