C. Morton Horne
Encyclopedia
C. Morton Horne was an Irish writer and musical comedy performer who lost his life on a battlefield in France during the First World War.
at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre
. Later that year Horne traveled to America aboard the SS Amerika. where he would appear in four Broadway
musical productions over the next few seasons. Horne played The Honorable Richard Mirables opposite Emmy Wehlen
in Marriage a la Carte
at the Casino Theatre in January, 1911. In November of that year Horn began a successful run as Captain Graham in Little Boy Blue at the Lyric Theatre
and later at the Grand Opera House
. He played Billy Brand in the less than successful production of The Charity Girl staged at the Globe Theatre
in October, 1912. Horne’s final Broadway performance came in the spring of 1913 at the Globe Theatre as Capt. Etienne de Bouvray in a revival of Mlle. Modiste
In January, 1915 Horne sailed for Britain aboard the SS Megantic to join the struggle in Europe.. Over the last year of his life Horne wrote a number of songs and pros that were later compiled and published under the title, “Songs of the Shrapnel Shell, and Other Verse”. The following comes from the book’s Forward.
Cyril Morton Horne, late Captain of the Seventh Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
, was killed in action, fighting with His Majesty's troops, "Somewhere in France," January 27, 1916. Many of these verses were written in the trenches, between attack and counter-attack, with the shrapnel shells shrieking overhead, with mines and countermines exploding underneath, with the ever constant, surging gray tide of charging infantry threatening at any moment to overwhelm his command. Living for more than a year half-underground, like the moles he so vividly pictures in one of his poems, with the chances a thousand to one against him of ever emerging from the great conflict alive, he wrote these little verses, some of them scribbled in pencil upon scraps of paper, and sent them, one by one, to the woman across the seas to whom he had said good-by when his country called.
Captain Horne was but twenty-nine years of age when he was killed under most dramatic circumstances. He gave up his life trying to rescue a wounded British soldier lying in front of the trenches. A shrapnel shell exploded overhead just as his comrades were ready to cheer him for his heroic rescue.
Cyril Horne was survived by his wife, Marie Ditzen Horne, a resident of New York City at the time of his death. His permanent address listed in his probate records was 16 Palmerston – park, Dublin, Ireland.
Biography
Cyril Henry Morton Horne’s birth was recorded in the spring of 1885 in the Weston District of Dublin. Nothing here is known of his family in part because census records from this period were not preserved by the Irish government. His first major role most likely came in early 1910 as Lieutenant Varga in The Balkan PrincessThe Balkan Princess
The Balkan Princess is a British musical in three acts by Frederick Lonsdale and Frank Curzon, with lyrics by Paul Rubens and Arthur Wimperis, and music by Paul Rubens. It opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on 19 February 1910. The cast included Isabel Jay and Bertram Wallis...
at London’s Prince of Wales Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre on Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in the City of Westminster. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner...
. Later that year Horne traveled to America aboard the SS Amerika. where he would appear in four Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical productions over the next few seasons. Horne played The Honorable Richard Mirables opposite Emmy Wehlen
Emmy Wehlen
Emmy Wehlen was a German-born Edwardian musical comedy and silent film actress who vanished from the public eye while in her early thirties.-Biography:...
in Marriage a la Carte
Marriage a la Carte
Marriage a la Carte was a three-act Broadway musical comedy composed and written by C. M. S. McClellan and scored by Ivan Caryll.The play was staged by Austen Hurgon with musical direction provided by J. Sebastian Hiller and Carl H. Engel...
at the Casino Theatre in January, 1911. In November of that year Horn began a successful run as Captain Graham in Little Boy Blue at the Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre (New York)
The Lyric Theatre was a prominent Broadway theatre built in 1903 in Manhattan, New York City in the 42nd Street Theatre District. It had two entrances, one at 213 West 42nd Street and another at 214-26 West 43rd Street and was one of the few New York houses that had two formal entrances. In 1934,...
and later at the Grand Opera House
Pike's Opera House
Pike's Opera House, later renamed the Grand Opera House, was a theatre in New York City on the northwest corner of 8th Avenue and 23rd Street, in Chelsea, Manhattan.His other Pike's Opera House, in Cincinnati, burned in the Great Fire of Cincinnati, in 1866. Rebuilt after the fire, and the first...
. He played Billy Brand in the less than successful production of The Charity Girl staged at the Globe Theatre
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 205 West 46th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by the architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings, it was built by producer Charles Dillingham and opened as the Globe Theatre, in honor of London's Shakespearean playhouse, on...
in October, 1912. Horne’s final Broadway performance came in the spring of 1913 at the Globe Theatre as Capt. Etienne de Bouvray in a revival of Mlle. Modiste
Mlle. Modiste
Mlle. Modiste is an operetta in two acts written by Victor Herbert, libretto by Henry Blossom. It concerns hat shop girl Fifi, who longs to be an opera singer, but who is such a good hat seller that her employer, Mme. Cecil discourages her in her ambitions and exploits her commercial talents...
In January, 1915 Horne sailed for Britain aboard the SS Megantic to join the struggle in Europe.. Over the last year of his life Horne wrote a number of songs and pros that were later compiled and published under the title, “Songs of the Shrapnel Shell, and Other Verse”. The following comes from the book’s Forward.
Cyril Morton Horne, late Captain of the Seventh Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
, was killed in action, fighting with His Majesty's troops, "Somewhere in France," January 27, 1916. Many of these verses were written in the trenches, between attack and counter-attack, with the shrapnel shells shrieking overhead, with mines and countermines exploding underneath, with the ever constant, surging gray tide of charging infantry threatening at any moment to overwhelm his command. Living for more than a year half-underground, like the moles he so vividly pictures in one of his poems, with the chances a thousand to one against him of ever emerging from the great conflict alive, he wrote these little verses, some of them scribbled in pencil upon scraps of paper, and sent them, one by one, to the woman across the seas to whom he had said good-by when his country called.
Captain Horne was but twenty-nine years of age when he was killed under most dramatic circumstances. He gave up his life trying to rescue a wounded British soldier lying in front of the trenches. A shrapnel shell exploded overhead just as his comrades were ready to cheer him for his heroic rescue.
Cyril Horne was survived by his wife, Marie Ditzen Horne, a resident of New York City at the time of his death. His permanent address listed in his probate records was 16 Palmerston – park, Dublin, Ireland.