b. 16/10/1880 Islington, London. d. 20/10/1916 Cape Town, South Africa.
Horace Henry Glasock (1880-1916) was born on 16th October 1880 in Islington, London. Very little is known of his early life, though he joined the Royal Horse Artillery at the age of 18, and within a year, he was sailing for South Africa with “Q” Battery for the outbreak of the hostilities with the Boers.
Horace H Glasock VC
He was involved in some of the early actions of the war at Dreifontein and Bloemfontein, before he would be heavily involved in the action at Korn Spruit, Sanna’s Post which would lead to the award of a number of Victoria Crosses (London Gazette, 26th June 1900).
On 31 March 1900 at Sanna’s Post (aka Korn Spruit), South Africa, ‘Q’ and ‘U’ batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery were ambushed with the loss of most of the baggage column and five guns of the leading battery. When the alarm was given, ‘Q’ Battery went into action 1150 yards from the spruit, until the order to retire was received, when Major Phipps-Hornby (VC, CB, CMG), commanding officer of the battery, ordered the guns and their limbers to be run back by hand to a safe place. This most exhausting operation was carried out by, among others, Driver Glasock, Sergeant Charles Parker (VC) and Gunner Isaac Lodge (VC). When at last all but one of the guns and one limber had been moved to safety, the battery was reformed.
Lord Roberts VC, the Commander-in-Chief, South Africa was so impressed with the gallantry of all the ranks of the “Q” Battery that he invoked Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, and this saw an officer (Phipps-Hornby) and three of the other ranks (Glasock, Lodge and Parker) to be elected by their fellow ranks for the award. Glasock was presented with his VC by Queen Victoria at the last investiture she carried out on 15th December 1900 at Windsor Castle.
Following his service in the Boer War, he remained in the Royal Horse Artillery until 1911, when he was discharged. He then emigrated to South Africa and settled in Johannesburg with his wife. On the outbreak of World War I, he served as a Conductor with Transports and Remounts in the South African Service Corps. Sadly, Glasock died whilst in service at Cape Town on 20th October 1916, just four days after his 36th birthday. He was buried in Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town, and the headstone was replaced in 1965. His medals are now part of the Ashcroft Collection in the Imperial War Museum.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT GALLERY, IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, LONDON.
BURIAL PLACE: MAITLAND ROAD CEMETERY, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA.
Section 4
