The documents catalogued here form two groups:
1. Letters sent by Sergeant Sidney Horrobin of the 3rd King's Own Hussars to his mother (name unknown) living in Hove, East Sussex. During this time SH was stationed in Aldershot, Hampshire, and Catterick, Yorkshire.
2. Letters sent by various army personnel to SH's mother informing her of his illness (which led to his death) and also concerning funeral and army administrative business subsequent to SH's death.
Sidney Horrobin (known as 'Bunny' to his mother) was born (date unknown but circa 1900) and brought up in West Ham, London. He served as a professional soldier with the King's Own Hussars (various regiments, ultimately with the 3rd). As a soldier he took various educational courses to become an educational trainer for his regiment.
He served in Egypt and India before returning to a posting in England towards the end of 1932. He spent at least some of the years between 1933 and 1939 in Aldershot but appears to have been based in Yorkshire when he died, having attained the rank of Sergeant.
As one of his sisters lived in the Brighton area, his mother also moved out of London and, during the time of this correspondence, was living in Hove, East Sussex. The actual date of his mother's move is unknown but it is thought to be at some time during 1933 or 1934. It is unclear as to where Sidney's father lived.
Sidney died of double pneumonia on 22nd January 1939 leaving a young wife, Elsie, and a son, Keith, aged 3. In March or April 1939, Keith was moved into an orphanage in Blackburn. Keith left the orphanage on 24th May 1946 when he returned to the care of his mother who was then living in Ilford, Essex.
For records relating to Sidney Horrobin's nephew (?), George Horrobin, see LIA 1.
Horrobin, Sidney, c.1900 - 22nd January 1939, Sergeant
1 photograph
5 letters from SH to his mother
2 telegrams relating to SH's illness
7 letters from various Army departments relating to SH's death, funeral, etc
2 tags from funeral wreaths
Digital copies of the documents have been donated to the East Sussex Record Office and are listed here.
The original collection is held in the care of SH's great niece, Tricia Leonard, who is willing to make the documents available to researchers. The original collection includes documents relating to Sidney's life when neither he nor his mother were domiciled in the Brighton and Hove area. Other documents include:
- school reports and photographs (unlabelled)
- army certificates and photographs (unlabelled) but seemingly taken mainly in Egypt and India
- various memorabilia (school, early work and army)
- letter and log entry from Blackburn Orphanage
- some later photographs presumably of Keith as an adult
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