Born 17th October 1898
Killed in action in France, Thursday 26th September 1919
Horace Kesby was a scholar in our Sunday School from its earliest days, and passed to the Bible Class. He was yet another of our lads educated at Downshall and Ilford College, and his brief business career was spent at Lipton's Head Offices. Immediately war broke out he rushed to the colours, although he was only 15 years of age. He succeeded in joining the Middlesex Regt. But even after a year's training he was still, of course, too young to go overseas, and his parents secured his release. When Horace was 18 ½ he enlisted in the 2/15 London Regt. As a lance-corpl. he was transferred to the M.G.C. Immediately he was 19 he went to France and saw eleven months of varied active service. On the 26th September 1918, Horace sent home a field card saying he was well, but on the same day this gallant lad was killed. About a year before his death Horace signed the Y.M.C.A. War Roll, pledging his loyalty to the Great Captain. Jesus Christ.
Reproduced from Homage: A Record of Our Heroes (a commemorative booklet produced by Seven Kings United Methodist Church c.1920)