Sapper Gerald Arthur Horsman Royal Engineers
Gerald Arthur Horsman
The Man Gerald Arthur Horsman was born on Saturday 22nd August 1908 in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. Son of George Anthony, a Grocer’s Manager originally from London and Beatrice Mabel nee Brown. He was one of three children, Doris Mabel born in 1900 and Kathleen May 1905 – 1988.
The census of 1911 shows the family living at 20 Albert Avenue, King’s Lynn, although at some time after this they returned to London and in about 1926 aged 18, Gerald enlisted into the Army Supplementary Reserve, possibly the Royal Hussars and later the Royal Engineers as a Sapper with service number 544227. He also became a Grocer like his father and in 1930 is living with his parents at 78 Broad Lane, Tottenham.
On 26th December 1933 aged 25 Gerald returned to King’s Lynn to marry Rosa May Senter at St Nicholas Chapel, in the Parish of St Margaret’s with St Nicholas and they had one daughter Sheila Ann born in 1936.
In 1934 Gerald and Rosa were living at 886 High Road, Tottenham, London and Gerald changed careers becoming a Shot Blaster at a Cycle Works. In Army Order 34 of February 1938, he was awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Militia’ and the 1939 Register shows the family living at 117 Broad Lane, Tottenham.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd August 1939, Gerald was called up into the SR, seeing service in North Africa and Italy. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 1st Army Clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and in Army Order 180 of 1942 the first clasp to his Efficiency Medal.
After the was Gerald and Rosa lived at 146 Sherringham Avenue, Tottenham; he appears to have been a keen driver and awarded the ROSPA Safe Driving Competition award almost every year from 1937 until his death.
Gerald passed away aged just 56 on 22nd January 1965 at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Tottenham with Administration granted to his daughter, now Sheila Rasberry. Rosa remarried in 1966 to Charles P Madley and died in 1976 in Havering.
The census of 1911 shows the family living at 20 Albert Avenue, King’s Lynn, although at some time after this they returned to London and in about 1926 aged 18, Gerald enlisted into the Army Supplementary Reserve, possibly the Royal Hussars and later the Royal Engineers as a Sapper with service number 544227. He also became a Grocer like his father and in 1930 is living with his parents at 78 Broad Lane, Tottenham.
On 26th December 1933 aged 25 Gerald returned to King’s Lynn to marry Rosa May Senter at St Nicholas Chapel, in the Parish of St Margaret’s with St Nicholas and they had one daughter Sheila Ann born in 1936.
In 1934 Gerald and Rosa were living at 886 High Road, Tottenham, London and Gerald changed careers becoming a Shot Blaster at a Cycle Works. In Army Order 34 of February 1938, he was awarded his Efficiency Medal ‘Militia’ and the 1939 Register shows the family living at 117 Broad Lane, Tottenham.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd August 1939, Gerald was called up into the SR, seeing service in North Africa and Italy. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star with 1st Army Clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and in Army Order 180 of 1942 the first clasp to his Efficiency Medal.
After the was Gerald and Rosa lived at 146 Sherringham Avenue, Tottenham; he appears to have been a keen driver and awarded the ROSPA Safe Driving Competition award almost every year from 1937 until his death.
Gerald passed away aged just 56 on 22nd January 1965 at the Prince of Wales Hospital, Tottenham with Administration granted to his daughter, now Sheila Rasberry. Rosa remarried in 1966 to Charles P Madley and died in 1976 in Havering.
1939-45 Star. Africa Star '1st Army'. Italy Star. Dewfence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Medal 'Militia' and clasp.
The Story The medal group awarded to Gerald Arthur Horsman was acquired from Thomas Watson Auctioneers, following a link from The Saleroom website in July 2023.
They were of interest because of the scarcer ‘Militia’ Efficiency Medal together with clasp, although the group is very similar to another in this collection awarded to Robert Boyce, except for the 1st Army Clasp.
Forces War Records and the OMRS database provided the years of award for the Efficiency Medal and clasp, 1938 and 42 respectively. Ancestry.UK was then checked using 1908 as an approximate birth year. This was achieved by taking 12 years off 1938 (the qualification time for the medal) and a further 18 years assuming he had joined the Supplementary Reserve aged 18, a total of 30 years off 1938 = 1908. This provided a direct hit and only one possible match.
Additionally, a check of the British Newspaper Archives found a picture of Gerald at his wedding in 1933 and his will revealed he had a daughter, both adding vital pieces of detail to the story.
All of this enabled a brief biography to be pieced together and another hitherto forgotten soldier to be remembered.
They were of interest because of the scarcer ‘Militia’ Efficiency Medal together with clasp, although the group is very similar to another in this collection awarded to Robert Boyce, except for the 1st Army Clasp.
Forces War Records and the OMRS database provided the years of award for the Efficiency Medal and clasp, 1938 and 42 respectively. Ancestry.UK was then checked using 1908 as an approximate birth year. This was achieved by taking 12 years off 1938 (the qualification time for the medal) and a further 18 years assuming he had joined the Supplementary Reserve aged 18, a total of 30 years off 1938 = 1908. This provided a direct hit and only one possible match.
Additionally, a check of the British Newspaper Archives found a picture of Gerald at his wedding in 1933 and his will revealed he had a daughter, both adding vital pieces of detail to the story.
All of this enabled a brief biography to be pieced together and another hitherto forgotten soldier to be remembered.
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Gerald Arthur Horsman's World War II Medal Award Certificate.
Gerald Arthur Horsman's marriage to Rosa May Senter. 26th December 1933.
Gerald Horsman's RE beret badge and early medal ribbon bar
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Gerald Horsman's ROSPA Safe Driving Medals 1937-67 (two years after his death?)
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Reverse of safe driving award.
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Italy Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 544277 SPR.G.A.HORSMAN. R.E.
This page last updated 31 Oct 23
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