Charles Beck Hornby
Charles Beck Hornby | |
|---|---|
Captain Charles Hornby and his squadron charging against German cavalrymen at Casteau. Illustration by Charles Mills Sheldon | |
| Born | 7 February 1883 Bangalore, British India |
| Died | 10 January 1949 (aged 65) Hexham, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1901–1922 1941–1943 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards |
| Battles / wars | Second Boer War First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (2) Croix de Guerre (France) |
Charles Beck Hornby, DSO, JP (7 February 1883 – 10 January 1949) was a British cavalryman. While serving as a captain in the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, he is reputed to have become the first British soldier to kill a German soldier in the First World War, at around 6:30 am on 22 August 1914, near the Belgian village of Casteau.