Sapper Horace Leslie Wilbraham
67178, 223581 Sapper Royal Engineers
308965 (Private) Tank Corps
Horace Leslie Wilbraham was born in 1889 at Jacksdale, Notts son of Matthew Henry Wilbraham, a butcher, born Riddings, Derbyshire and Sarah Ann (nee Lowe), born Ironville, Derbyshire. Horace had younger brothers and sisters Ernest, Gladys, Henrietta, Doris and Matthew. Horace’s brothers Ernest and Matthew also served and survived WW1. Horace is not listed on the Jacksdale War Memorial as having served as he had moved to Hucknall. In 1911 the family was living at ‘Dale House’, Jacksdale, situated on the corner of Jacksdale Street and Main Road which was originally the Wilbraham’s butcher’s shop but later became the Jacksdale Social Club.
On 22nd September 1911 Horace married Ada Standal Brailsford at Bulwell, Notts and they had children Horace Leslie born 3rd April 1913 and Matthew Standal born 22nd April 1914 at Long Eaton.
Horace attested with the Royal Engineers on 11th December 1915. He was aged 26 years and 2 months, 5’9″ tall and gave his occupation as a plumber. His home address at that time was 129, Portland Road, Hucknall Torkard, Notts. He was posted to the Army reserve until 4th January 1917 when he was mobilised. On 17th February 1918 he was transferred to the Tank Corps and served in the UK until 11th March 1918 when he was part of the British Expeditionary Force until September 1918. On 11th September he returned to serve in the UK and was transferred to the Z Reserve in February 1919 and discharged at the end of March 1920.
Horace was a recipient of the Victory and British War Medals.
In March 1914 Horace’s father had been one of a number of local tradesmen who formed the Social Club as the following newspaper article reports:- ‘Jacksdale Social Club. A company has just been registered called the Jacksdale and District Institute, Ltd., to acquire or rent a building in or near Jacksdale, for a social club. Registered March 18th, with capital £500 in £1 shares. Directors (and subscribers), F. Eccles, director of Eccles Ltd., grocers; E. Holmes, Jacksdale, bootmaker; M. H. Wilbraham, Jacksdale, gentleman; W. Parson, Ironville, Derbyshire, engineer; G. Clarke, Jacksdale, hairdresser; J. Pitt, Jacksdale, nurseryman; J. W. Peach, Jacksdale, general dealer. Qualification £5. 1914 March 27th.’