Hori and Greenwich Park

In the letters that Hori sent home, he often asked after his colleagues at Greenwich Park, some of whom were also away fighting. In a letter of 24 May 1917, he asked his wife Bessie:

'Have you heard how all the other fellows from the Park are getting on and where they are? Some may be out here perhaps. How is Mr. Russell, Mr. Barton and Mr. Cahill and Mr. Hay and Mr. Linford and Mr. Keele and Mr. Edwards and all the rest.'

Mr. Linford and the women who worked in the office at the Park sometimes wrote to Hori and sent him tobacco. In October and November, when conditions were particularly difficult, he told Bessie:

'I (had) a very nice letter from Mr Linford. You really ought to go up and thank the girls … Tell them how I appreciated their kindness.'

In his very last letter home, Hori asked Bessie to:

'Remember me to all you see of the Park chaps.'

After Hori was killed in action, the Royal Parks Employees' Association wrote to Bessie offering condolences. Their letter made it clear that Hori was respected and valued at work. It said:

'To us he was a true comrade. One of our best supporters and we have always benefited by his whole-hearted assistance. We mourn the loss of a friend and comrade.'