2nd Lieutenant Horace James Henry Toms was born in Manchester and was the son of Mr. And Mrs James Toms, of 27, Whalley Road, Whalley Range, Manchester. 

He enlisted into the 12th County of London (Rangers) in September 1914 and later transferred to Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. On the 21st June 1915, he joined the 14th Battalion The Sherwood Foresters and transferred to the 19th Battalion on the 19th April 1916. Horace later transferred to the 11th (Men of the Greenwood) Battalion in 1916 and was sadly killed in action on the 9th April 1917 at Ypres during a German attack at Hill 60, Belgium at the age of 20 years. 

He is buried at Railways Dugout Burial Ground, (Transport Farm), Zillebeke.