WILLIAM EDWARD HORTON 

Sergeant William Edward Horton was killed in action during a night time attack on the village of Ovillers on 14th July 1916. His cousin, who served with him, reported that William had been shot in the head and died instantly. He was 28 years old. William left a widow, Mary and a baby daughter Betty. Two months after his death, Mary had a son, William.

William Edward Horton was born in the early spring of 1888, and was baptised at All Saints Church, Runcorn on 4th March 1888. His parents were William Henry Horton (1865–1934) and Martha Annie Watson  (1866–1938). William grew up in Runcorn with his siblings Isabella, Lilian, Clifford, Frank, Reginald, Bessie and Sydney. In April 1911, the family home was at 2 Highfield Terrace, Runcorn. William, aged 23, was a tanner's labourer. He attended church regularly, and sang in a local choir.

When he was 27, he married 18-year-old Mary Elizabeth Parker (1897–1970) at St Mary's Church, Halton on 14th February 1915. Their first child Betty was born later that year, on 30th September.

From his attestation records, we know that William was 5' 8" tall, with brown hair and blue eyes. His trade was a tanner.

William had enlisted on 10th September 1914, at the outbreak of war. By January 1915, he had been promoted to Sergeant. Four days after Betty's birth, on 26th September 1915, the 10th Battalion Cheshire Regiment sailed to France. William and his colleagues fought in the Battle of the Somme. He was killed on 14th July 1916, aged 28, and his son William was born ten weeks later on 26th September 1916.

The Widnes Weekly News and District Reporter (28th July 1916) reported his death as follows:

SERGT.W. HORTON'S FATE.
The hopes entertained by the wife and parents of Sergt. W. E. Horton that the report of his death in action was premature have, unfortunately, not been fulfilled, for since the brief report in our last issue further letters have been received confirming the earlier report that he had met his death in action. In a letter to his wife the chaplain writes: "As the Church of England chaplain to the 10th Battalion Cheshire Regiment, it is with the very deepest regret and sympathy that I write to give you the sad news of the death of your husband, Sergt. W. E. Horton, who was killed in action on Thursday, July 13th. I have to-day seen his cousin, Sergt. J. Horton, and he tells me that they were returning to their own trenches after a raid on the German trenches when your husband was shot in the head by a sniper and killed on the spot. His death was instantaneous and he could have suffered no pain. To our great regret the conditions up to date have made it impossible to recover the body. I knew him well. He had come to the Holy Communion often and came on the last Saturday but one of his life, when we had a special communion service for the regiment before it went into the trenches. He lived a pure and straight life, and was, I am sure, prepared to meet his God. Personally, I feel I have lost a real friend. All his officers and comrades send their deepest sympathy, and I expect his company officer will write to Fou himself. I know what a blow it will be to you, but I pray that God will give you strength to bear it, and that you will find comfort in the thought that your late husband died nobly for King and Country.'
Mrs. Horton has also received the following letter from one of her husband's comrades:

“This letter is from a stranger to you personally, yet from one who shares with you a deep loss. I refer to your husband Willie, who has been practically my best friend since enlisting. At our billet at Bournemouth, as far back as 1914, We were a happy group of four (and of which you will probably hare a photo).  September 1915 brought the first loss in the death of Sergt. Barlow, and now your husband has gone. May it be some consolation to you to know that he was a brave soldier and one who never shirked his duty, thereby putting confidence in the junior non-com's and men under him. I know for a fact that he had the fullest confidence of his officers and the respect and goodwill of those under him. Willie, I understand, was laid to rest quietly at the back of our lines, together with our other brave comrades who hare sacrificed their all in their country's cause. May God help you in your trouble with brighter days in store."

Sergt. W. E. Horton, who was 23 years of age, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Horton, of Highfield terrace, and had been out with the Cheshires for ten months. Another brother, Private Clifford, also went out on Thursday with the Machine Gun Corps, having been in training for over 18 months. He also has a cousin in France. Sergt. Horton is an old boy of the Parish School, and attended the Parish Church and Sunday School, and as a boy was a chorister at St. Michael's. He was very musical, and was a member of the Highfield Male Voice Choir, haring also been a member of the Highfield Band. He was a good footballer, showing excellent form when playing with the Highfield team in the works' competition. Only a month ago he sent home a number of curios, including the nose cap of a German shell which fell a few yards from him, and also a picture postcard taken from one of several Germans who had surrendered to him and his comrades. Much sympathy has been expressed with his wife and with his family in their sad loss.

William is remembered on the Memorial at Thiepval in Piccardie, France. His widow Mary did not remarry. She died in 1970, aged 73.