Name
Horace Harold Dukes
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/05/1915
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2744
Cameron Highlanders
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
Plot IV, Row C, Grave 9.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour
Pre War
Son of Job Charles and the late Mary Ann (nee GIBSON) DUKES of Watford.
His parents married 20 January 1879 at St Mary’s, Watford. Mary died 1904 in Watford aged 47, and was buried 10 May in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Job died 1937 in Watford aged 81, and was buried 14 December, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Horace was born 11 May 1895 in Watford, and baptised 12 July 1895 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts. He attended first Callow Land Infants’ School, Watford; then Callowland Board School from 3 February to 11 July 1902. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 5 he lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, an errand boy aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed father and four siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Bedford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 18 April 1915, and died at Bethune of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
His brother Francis died 19 August 1917 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
Unfortunately, Horace’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
