A Verray Parfit Gentil Knyght.
Horatio Wackrill Special Constabulary
The Man Horatio Joseph Wackrill was born on Thursday 10th September 1863, son of Alderman Samuel Thomas Wackrill, Magistrate, Carpet Factor, Draper, Master Employer and the Charter Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa and Maria Nee Wippell.
He was one of nine children, some of whom, like their father became renowned in their own rights. Alice Maria (April 1855 – 1933, who worked for her father as accountant at his Draper’s shop in Leamington Spa), Walter Thomas (October 1857 – 1939, listed as weak from birth), Frederick Henry (4th October 1858 – 1954 becoming a Master Draper), Ellen Graham (1860–1931, later Governess at a local school), Alfred Edward (11th February 1862 - 1924, a Civil Servant working on the Ceylon Survey and very keen on Esperanto), Matilda Agnes (January 1865 - 1891), Ada Sharland (22nd January 1870 – 1947, a Student of Music in Leipzig and later Pianoforte teacher and member of the National Union for Women’s Suffrage ), Leonard John (July 1871 – 1929 a Student of Horticulture at Swanley and later Florist).
The Census of 1871 shows Horatio and family living at 71 Portland Street, Leamington Priors; Horatio’s father Sam, being instrumental in Leamington Spa becoming a Borough four years later in 1875 and becoming its Charter Mayor in 1875-76.
Horatio was educated at Leamington Boys College and then joined his father’s Drapery business in Waterloo House, Bath Street, Leamington, as a Shopman Furnishings. The 1881 census reflects this and shows him living with the family at number 38 Portland Street, this probably having been renumbered from 71. In the censuses of 1891 and 1901 Horatio was at the same address and now a Carpet Factor, Draper, his father Sam Wackrill is for some reason not listed on the 1901 Census, although he didn’t die until 1907 and Annie is shown as the head of the family.
He was one of nine children, some of whom, like their father became renowned in their own rights. Alice Maria (April 1855 – 1933, who worked for her father as accountant at his Draper’s shop in Leamington Spa), Walter Thomas (October 1857 – 1939, listed as weak from birth), Frederick Henry (4th October 1858 – 1954 becoming a Master Draper), Ellen Graham (1860–1931, later Governess at a local school), Alfred Edward (11th February 1862 - 1924, a Civil Servant working on the Ceylon Survey and very keen on Esperanto), Matilda Agnes (January 1865 - 1891), Ada Sharland (22nd January 1870 – 1947, a Student of Music in Leipzig and later Pianoforte teacher and member of the National Union for Women’s Suffrage ), Leonard John (July 1871 – 1929 a Student of Horticulture at Swanley and later Florist).
The Census of 1871 shows Horatio and family living at 71 Portland Street, Leamington Priors; Horatio’s father Sam, being instrumental in Leamington Spa becoming a Borough four years later in 1875 and becoming its Charter Mayor in 1875-76.
Horatio was educated at Leamington Boys College and then joined his father’s Drapery business in Waterloo House, Bath Street, Leamington, as a Shopman Furnishings. The 1881 census reflects this and shows him living with the family at number 38 Portland Street, this probably having been renumbered from 71. In the censuses of 1891 and 1901 Horatio was at the same address and now a Carpet Factor, Draper, his father Sam Wackrill is for some reason not listed on the 1901 Census, although he didn’t die until 1907 and Annie is shown as the head of the family.
During the next few years, Horatio diversified becoming a Master Undertaker based at 13 Spencer Street, Leamington Spa, the 1911 census shows him living there with two servants, Fred Herbert Harrison and Edith Louisa Bradshaw. The rest of the family had by now, following their father’s death, moved to 3 Archery Road in the Town. Horatio was resident at his Spencer Street address for some years and is shown as such in Trade Directories of 1912 and 1924. As an undertaker, he gained a reputation for his attention to detail, dignity and respect he showed to others at their time of grief.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, Horatio, aged 51 was sworn in as a Special Constable in the Royal Leamington Spa Borough Police on 11th September 1914. His address was given as Spencer Street and his availability for duty 2200h-0600h. His duties would typically involve guarding various sites and night patrols, usually on a shift of four hours. The SCs were not issued with a uniform, just a cap and an armband.
He served throughout the War and remained a Special Constable afterwards, being on duty at the unveiling of the War Memorial in Leamington on 27th May 1922. He qualified for his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal on 9th March 1925 and resigned from the Specials on 31st August 1925 aged 62. He was presented his medal at a local ceremony in 1929, when it was acknowledged in the local press “Duties most loyally carried out in all weathers and often at great personal inconvenience until the termination of the war.” Amongst those receiving medals were a number of prominent local businessmen, – G H Budd of A T Tomes Printers, H J Dawson, Funeral Director, P H Woodward, H J Wackrill, George Bradford, Charles Southorn, Charles Burridge, Roland Salt and Leonard Tustain. At the end of the war, many Specials had carried on to form a Reserve, continuing to assist the regular force”.
Horatio retired as a Master Undertaker and in 1939 had moved to 3 Archery Road with Fred and Ada. He did not become involved in local public affairs like his father, but was vitally concerned in them and considered a power behind the scenes. He was a keen supporter of the RSPCA, organiser and secretary of the local Horse Show and Parade and a regular worshiper at Holy Trinity Church, with which he had been associated for 60 years. He co-authored a booklet ‘The Organs of Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa’ with W Stanley Vann to commemorate the new organ in the church. He was also, like most of his family a confirmed celibate.
Horatio died on Monday 9th February 1948 aged 84 at the Warneford Hospital, Leamington Spa, leaving £14187.00 (£646,000 approximately in 2024). His funeral took place at Holy Trinity Church on Thursday 12th February, with Stanley Vann appropriately playing the organ.
Horatio was described following his death as being the best illustration of Chaucer’s ‘verray, parfit gentil knight’ and ‘better than genius - just the kindly considerateness of a perfect gentleman. His presence and his spirit were often a help to ministers in the most difficult of their tasks’.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, Horatio, aged 51 was sworn in as a Special Constable in the Royal Leamington Spa Borough Police on 11th September 1914. His address was given as Spencer Street and his availability for duty 2200h-0600h. His duties would typically involve guarding various sites and night patrols, usually on a shift of four hours. The SCs were not issued with a uniform, just a cap and an armband.
He served throughout the War and remained a Special Constable afterwards, being on duty at the unveiling of the War Memorial in Leamington on 27th May 1922. He qualified for his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal on 9th March 1925 and resigned from the Specials on 31st August 1925 aged 62. He was presented his medal at a local ceremony in 1929, when it was acknowledged in the local press “Duties most loyally carried out in all weathers and often at great personal inconvenience until the termination of the war.” Amongst those receiving medals were a number of prominent local businessmen, – G H Budd of A T Tomes Printers, H J Dawson, Funeral Director, P H Woodward, H J Wackrill, George Bradford, Charles Southorn, Charles Burridge, Roland Salt and Leonard Tustain. At the end of the war, many Specials had carried on to form a Reserve, continuing to assist the regular force”.
Horatio retired as a Master Undertaker and in 1939 had moved to 3 Archery Road with Fred and Ada. He did not become involved in local public affairs like his father, but was vitally concerned in them and considered a power behind the scenes. He was a keen supporter of the RSPCA, organiser and secretary of the local Horse Show and Parade and a regular worshiper at Holy Trinity Church, with which he had been associated for 60 years. He co-authored a booklet ‘The Organs of Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa’ with W Stanley Vann to commemorate the new organ in the church. He was also, like most of his family a confirmed celibate.
Horatio died on Monday 9th February 1948 aged 84 at the Warneford Hospital, Leamington Spa, leaving £14187.00 (£646,000 approximately in 2024). His funeral took place at Holy Trinity Church on Thursday 12th February, with Stanley Vann appropriately playing the organ.
Horatio was described following his death as being the best illustration of Chaucer’s ‘verray, parfit gentil knight’ and ‘better than genius - just the kindly considerateness of a perfect gentleman. His presence and his spirit were often a help to ministers in the most difficult of their tasks’.
Horatio Wackrill's medal in its tailor made award box
The Story The Special Constabulary Long Service Medal was acquired on 19th February 2024 following a private deal.
A request for information was received by the Leamington History Group on Horatio Wackrill, the enquirer having recently acquired his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal. After some deliberation the decision was taken to email the enquirer direct asking that if ever, he decided to dispose of the medal, consideration be given to it coming ‘home’ to Royal Leamington Spa, especially in view of its importance as being awarded to the son of the Charter Mayor of the town.
The enquirer was extremely helpful and very pleased for it to return to its home town and it now sits within a sub-theme of this collection and enabling his Father Samuel Wackrill the first Mayor to also be recognised on the web site.
Ancestry.UK, newspaper archives, wills and a local police historian, enabled a substantial biography to be pieced together.
An important part of the towns history is now back where it all began.
A request for information was received by the Leamington History Group on Horatio Wackrill, the enquirer having recently acquired his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal. After some deliberation the decision was taken to email the enquirer direct asking that if ever, he decided to dispose of the medal, consideration be given to it coming ‘home’ to Royal Leamington Spa, especially in view of its importance as being awarded to the son of the Charter Mayor of the town.
The enquirer was extremely helpful and very pleased for it to return to its home town and it now sits within a sub-theme of this collection and enabling his Father Samuel Wackrill the first Mayor to also be recognised on the web site.
Ancestry.UK, newspaper archives, wills and a local police historian, enabled a substantial biography to be pieced together.
An important part of the towns history is now back where it all began.
Medal Details:
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: HORATIO WACKRILL
This page last updated 25 Apr 24
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