Horace Hanks (1894-  1978 )

Cecil Charles Hanks, known as Horace, was born in Trunch, Norfolk, in 1895.

In the First World War he joined the Army in August 1914 and was a gunner in the Royal Field Artillery.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal after showing gallantry and devotion to duty and in 1918, by now a sergeant, he excelled himself in the Scarpe Valley.

While taking ammunition to the battery position on 2^nd September, the leading team was caught in a hostile concentration of fire in Remy village, causing a blockage in the road.

Under shell-fire, Horace moved the dead horses and damaged wagon out of the way so the remainder of his column could pass. It was said by so doing he saved many more casualties.

After the war, he came to Grantham. He was employed at Pidcock’s Maltings, in Welham Street, for more than 40 years.

He was also a dedicated British Legion member and sold poppies outside the Granada for many years and later manned the poppy stall in front of the Sir Isaac Newton Statue on St. Peters Hill.

On parades through town, he usually led the colour party.

He enjoyed nothing more than a pint and a pipe of ‘baccy at the British Legion on a Saturday Night.

He lived at Harrow Street for most of his life, although later he was at Byron Close following the death of his wife.

Compiled with assistance of Peter Reichelt and the Hanks family