Harrogate Herald - 3rd January 1917

Roll of Honour

With regret we announce that QMS Joseph Horsley, of the West Yorkshires, has fallen. He will be well remembered as Police Sergeant Horsley, of the West Riding Police, concluding, before joining the Army in November 1915, about three years service as a clerk in the divisional head office in Dewsbury. The news is not official, but is conveyed to his wife, who resides in Wharfe Street, Savile Town, in a letter from a sergeant major at the Front, who says that the QMS was killed by shell fire in company with another sergeant and four or five men. His death has taken place in particularly painful circumstances, for he was killed at 5.30 on Sunday morning week, and was to have come home on leave on Wednesday last. The brave warrant-officer, who at the time of his death had before him the offer of a commission, gained rapid promotion, being employed as acting-sergeant not long after joining, and within a very short time of that being made quartermaster-sergeant. It may be of interest to state that he was formerly stationed, while in the constabulary, at Knaresborough, Rotherham, Settle, Sheffield, and Barnsley, and was about forty years of age, and a native of Derbyshire.

Harrogate Herald - 7th March 1917

W H Breare letter

I had Sergeant J Head in last week. .............

Whilst on active service one of the comrades he met was Norman Kemp, son of Mr William Kemp, our sanitary inspector. Head also saw Charlie Foster, painter, of Tower Street. These he last saw one day in passing through a French village. He had likewise met Cooper, of King's Road. The late Sergeant France, son of Police-Sergeant France, who died long ago, was Sergeant cook in Head's company. Quarter-Master Horsley, clerk at Knaresborough Police Court for some time, was also in Head's company. Horsley was killed in action. my visitor is second cousin to Mr George Head, well-known in connection with the Harrogate Cycling Club, who resides in Robert Street. Sergeant Head desires me to send his kind regards to his old pals at the Front, who are certainly in his thoughts. By the way, those who know her we be interested to know that Head's grandmother still lives in Lund Lane, Killinghall.