Corporal Horace (Toby) William Yaxley
Born: 5th October 1910, Irstead, Norfolk.
Baptised: 13th July 1913, Irstead Church.
Parents: Albert Yaxley and Sarah Ann (née Scarland).
Siblings: George Albert (killed in action World War Two), Pamela E, Nora, Hannah, Althea (Ella), Charles E, Margaret, Wilfred C, Gladys.
School: Probably Neatishead.
Address: The Street, Irstead (1911 census).
Occupation: No 10, Platoon, “C” Company Royal Norfolk Regiment, served in India prior to World War Two.
Military and War Service - Corporal 2nd Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. Service No 5770661. In late May 1940 the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment was holding Le Paradis, Le Cornet Malo and Riez-du-Vinage in an attempt to block the enemy's route to Dunkirk.
Death - 23rd May, 1940, aged 29.
Memorial - Remembered with honour Dunkirk Town Cemetery and Irstead Church.
The above information has been kindly supplied to us by the Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf Heritage Group and used with their permission. We have a separate page to Horace's brother Albert George Yaxley and you can view this by clicking here.
The photograph of No 10 Platoon, “C” Company, Royal Norfolk Regiment, appears to have been taken in India during the late 1930s, possibly at Sialkot or Jhansi.
Private Horace Yaxley (George's brother) is pictured in the back row (extreme right). Lance Corporal George Yaxley is sitting in the front row (second from the left). Source: http://ww2talk.com.
Private Horace Yaxley (George's brother) is pictured in the back row (extreme right). Lance Corporal George Yaxley is sitting in the front row (second from the left). Source: http://ww2talk.com.
Photographs above from St Michael's Church Irstead are courtesy of Claire Penstone-Smith and the Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf Community Heritage Group.