Horner, Thomas Martin (Tom)
Rifleman
No. 18/1073, 8th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Thursday 5 April 1917 (aged 19)
Buried:
Pond Farm Cemetery, Belgium (Grave M. 15)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
BIOGRAPHY
In some records his surname is spelt Homer.
In Ireland’s Memorial Records 1914 – 1918 and in the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database Tom Horner’s surname is spelt Homer and he is recorded as having been born in Killinchy.
In the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website Tom’s surname is spelt Horner and he is described as the son of Elizabeth Horner of Killinchy Woods, Crossgar.
In newspaper reports Tom is described as the eldest son of Thomas Horner and the address given is Killinchy Woods, Crossgar.
Other evidence points to the conclusion that Thomas Martin Horner had a connection with the townland of Killinchy in the Woods, Crossgar (known as Killinchy Woods) rather than with Killinchy.
Thomas Martin Horner was born on 4 July 1897 in Ballywoollen and he was the eldest son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Horner (nee Kennedy) who were married on 6 April 1896 in Downpatrick Registrar’s Office. Thomas Horner from Killinchy Woods was a son of William Horner, a stone mason. Lizzie Kennedy aged 19 from Killinchy Woods was a daughter of James Flinn, a labourer.
Thomas Horner Senior worked as an agricultural labourer and he and Lizzie had at least eight children:
Thomas Martin (Tom, born 4 July 1897 in Ballywoollen)
William John (born 6 May 1899 in Ballyalquin)
James Robert (born 7 June 1902 in Killinchy Woods)
Margaret (Maggie (born around 1904/1905)
David (born 8 August 1906 in Killinchy in the Woods)
Agnes Jane Jackson (born 31 March 1909 in Barnamaghery, Derryboye)
Samuel (born 2 June 1911 in Barnamaghery, Derryboye)
Mary Ann Corbett (born 27 August 1913 in Barnamaghery, Derryboye)
Tom Horner enlisted at Clandeboye and he served with the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Rifleman Tom Horner was 19 when he was killed in action on 5 April 1917 and at the time of his death his parents were living in Killinchy Woods, Crossgar. In his will, Tom left all of his property and effects to his mother.
Rifleman Tom Horner was buried in Pond Farm Cemetery, Belgium.