George Alfred Hort, MC

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Military Medal 4278 L. Cpl. G. A Hort 1st S.A.I.R.; 
BWM; AVM (Bil) Sgt. G. A. Hort. 1st S.A.I.; unofficial bronze medal Medaille 
Commemorative des Batailles de la Somme 1914-1918-1940 with certificate.

 

George Alfred Hort was born in Essex, England in 1882. Prior to his enlistment with the 1st S.A.I. Brigade at Potchefstroom on 23 August 1915 he worked as a commercial traveler. 

He saw his first action during the Egyptian Campaign in January - April 1916 where the first casualty he treated, Sgt Watkins of Wynberg, died in his arms during the Senussi Campaign. 

 

Hort later recalled that all he could do was to give Watkins a pill before he succumbed to his wounds. 

 

At Delville Wood Lance Corporal Hort was a stretcher bearer and was awarded the M.M. for bravery under fire.

 

The initial recommendation for 8 men, including Hort, was as follows: 
4878 L/Cpl Hort G.A. Lt Col Heal M.M 
“Acts of good work and gallantry during operations in Langueval and Delville Wood during 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th repespectively.” 

 

A more detailed recommendation was later written by 2nd Lieut. R.M. Lyne in the case of L/Cpl G.A. Hort No. 4878 “D” Coy 1st S.A. Infantry Regiment: 

"On the night of 16 July displayed utter fearlessness in removing wounded men from the front of the front line trenches in Delville Wood under severe machine gun and rifle fire, while Verey lights were being continuously displayed.

 

He also showed intrepidity in assisting to evacuate the wounded from the front dressing station under heavy shell fire". 

 

In later years George Hort was very proud of this Regimental Parchment Testemonial Certificate recording his gallantry described above which led to his award of the Military Medal. 

 

This original document is dated 15 January 1918.  One of only 25 such testimonial documents of the First South African Infantry Regiment it was specially printed by their Commanding Officer, Lieut. Colonel Heal, in order to show his appreciation to his men and to record their gallant deeds. 

 

Hort continued to serve during the heacy fighting at Arras and Ypres in 1917 and took part in the Brigade’s attempt to help stem the German advance in March 1918. 

 

On 23 March 1918 the German forces attached the Green Line which was the last prepared line of defence held by the South African Forces. 

 

Hort was very proud of his parchment document in terms of which he was awarded the M.M., as it was one of only 85 specially printed by Lieut. Colonel Heal to show his appreciation to his men. 

 

He served at Arras and Ypres in 1917 and took part in the Brigade’s attempt to help stem the German advance in March 1918. 

On 23 March 1918, the German forces attacked the Green line which was the last prepared line of defence held by South African forces. 

 

Hort later recalled that during this attack he was wounded being shot through the neck as he approached his Colonel, Lieut. Colonel Heal. He was unable to stop the flow of blood and later crawled off before being finally taken in a wheel barrow to the field dressing station. 

Fortunately, he was taken to the rear in the last ambulance to leave Manancourt before it was overrun by the German Forces on 23 March 1918. Due to the seriousness of his wounds, he never rejoined his unit and after returning to South Africa he was demobilized on 25 April 1919.

 

After the war he lived in the Cape Province with his wife Elizaberth. In 1965 he attended the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade in Johannesburg. He died the following year.