Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Homer, a maltster’s labourer, born 1864 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Jane Homer (nee Bowman, married in the 3rd quarter of 1889 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born 1866 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. Alexander Henry was born in the 3rd quarter of 1892 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Catharine Ann, born 1890, John Wilfred, born in the 3rd quarter of 1894, Harold William , born 1896 and George, born 1898, all his siblings were born in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, also residing with the family was Alexander’s maternal uncle, William Bowman, a gas stoker, born 1868 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 8, North Street, Mill Bank, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Alexander was employed as a gardener and nurseryman and was residing in the family home at 8 and 10, Mill Bank Road, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire together with his father, a Midland Railway Company labourer, his mother and siblings, Catharine, a marine store sorter, John, a butcher’s errand boy, William, a soap factory packer, George, a schoolboy, Elizabeth May, a schoolgirl, born 1901, Albert Edward, a schoolboy, born 1903, Ernest, a schoolboy, born 1905, Frank Reginald, born 1907 and Gladys Mabel, born 1909, the latter five siblings were all born in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. His younger brother, John Wilfred also fell in action. Alexander enlisted into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War) on the 25th October 1915 in Coalville, Leicestershire. He gave his place of residence as 8, Mill Bank, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire and his age as 23 years and 77 days, he gave his trade or calling as labourer and confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father William Homer of 8, Mill Bank, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10 inches in height, weighed 164 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37½ inches. His record of service began when he joined the 10th (2nd Reserve) Battalion Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 22006 on the 25/10/15. Posted to Rugeley Camp 13/11/15 – 29/3/16. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 31/3/16. Killed in action on the 1/10/17. The following information was provided by Alexander’s father W. Homer on the 30th August 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?- on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, W. Homer of 8, Mill Bank, Ashby. Mother of soldier, S. J. Homer of 8, Mill Bank, Ashby. Full blood brothers of soldier, Harold Homer, Geo. Homer, A. E. Homer, E. Homer, F. E. Homer, all of 8, Mill Bank, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mrs. J. R. Price of 10, Mill Bank, Ashby, E. Homer and G. M. Homer, both of 8, Mill Bank, Ashby. Alexander’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 1 Oct-17 - FRONT LINE. The night was extremely quiet, the absence of hostile shelling was particularly noticeable. At 5:30am a heavy hostile barrage was placed on the front line, and 100 yards west of the road in J.10.a. central. This was maintained until 6:00am when it became evident that a hostile counter attack on the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT was in progress. The S.O.S. was sent up by the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT on the right, also by this Battalion, and a heavy barrage was placed on and in front of the enemy lines. Heavy Lewis gun and rifle fire was immediately brought to bear on the threatened flank. A few minutes after 6:00am, a message was received from the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT that the enemy had gained possession of their front line. About 6:30am, small parties of the enemy were seen about JOIST FARM J.10.d.2.0. moving by short rushes towards our right front line Company and threatening to turn the right flank of the Battalion. Heavy Lewis gun and rifle fire was opened on the enemy, who suffered casualties and were unable to make any progress down the slope towards the front line. About this time the intensity of our barrage lessened, and towards 7:00am ceased altogether. Between 7:00 and 10:30am the enemy made repeated attempts to advance against the open flank of the Battalion, but was driven back on each occasion by rifle and Lewis gun fire. During this period it was found that the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT had been reinforced by two Companies of the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT and were holding the line of the road running north and south in J.10.a. A defensive flank was formed from the right flank of “B” Company J.10.d.35.50. to Battalion HQ at J.10.c.5.5. The right support Company (“A”) moved up to the road and linked up with Battalion HQ on the left, and the left Company of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT on the right. At 10:15am Captain J. B. MATTHEWS with the left support company (“D”) moved from its position J.10.a.3.2 in order to make a counter attack against the enemy holding the high ground in the vicinity of JOIST FARM. Unfortunately Captain J. B. MATTHEWS M.C. was killed instantly by a sniper when making a personal reconnaissance preparatory to the attack, and at 10:30am the hostile artillery put down a heavy barrage on the east side of POLYGON WOOD consequently this counter thrust did not materialise. This heavy hostile barrage was kept up until 1:00pm at which hour the shelling ceased, but no further hostile attack took place. At 2:00pm small parties of the enemy were seen moving about the south west edge of JETTY WARREN, but were dispersed by rifle fire, Shortly afterwards a hostile machine gun opened traversing fire along the road in J.10.c. central, and Lt. Col. UTTERSON D.S.O. was hit in the arm by a bullet. At 3:10pm a determined effort was made by the enemy 10 or 12 strong to move down the slope from JOIST FARM towards Battalion HQ but the attempt was stopped by rifle fire from the Battalion HQ concrete emplacement, the enemy retiring and leaving several dead behind them. No further attempt to advance was made by the enemy and the remainder of the afternoon passed quietly. At 6:10pm the S.O.S. signal was put up by the Brigade on the right and an exceptionally heavy barrage was placed on the enemy lines by our artillery. No hostile attack developed and at 8:00pm the barrage ceased. At 8:05pm the enemy attempted a counter attack against the ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS on the left. The S.O.S. was again sent up and a second barrage of an hours duration was placed on enemy lines. The counter attack was beaten back with loss to the enemy. The remainder of the night passed quietly and at dawn a protective barrage was formed by our artillery lasting for 15 minutes.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday November 16th, 1917

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Pte. A. H. Homer (Ashby), Sergeant J. O. Mills (Shepshed), and Pte. C. Smith (Coalville) are reported killed.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 29/12/2017.