Alfred Meakins Horne was born in April, 1881, at Torcester, Northhamptonshire, England. He was one of six children born to William Charzles Horne and his wifer Eliza, nee Meakins. She may well have been related to the famous Meakins Pottery family. In 1891, Alfred was living at Whittlebury in Northamptonshire and in 1901, was a servant at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. In July, 1908, he married Julia Ellen Metcalfe, known as Ellen, and they had one child, born in 1912, Russell Charles Horne. By then, they had emigrated to Australia and were living in East Melbourne. The baby was christened on 17 November, 1912, at St Peter's Anglican Church, Eastern Hill. By 1915, the family was living at 155 Wellington parade, with Alfred working as a waiter.
Alfred enlisted on 2 February, 1916, just as the focus of the war shifted to the Western Front in France and Belgium. He went into training at royal Park, Parkville, and was attached to the 24th Battalion, then to the 1st Australian Flying Corps. His final placement was with the 7th Field Artillery Brigade. The new recruits embarked for overseas on 14 March, 1916, disembarking at Suez, where they stayed a week before catching a train to Alexandria, and boarding the H.T. Northland for Britain. Here Alfred was moved again, this time to the 6th Australian Field Artillery Brigade Headquarters in England.
On 2 July, 1916, he was sent to France as part of the 5th FAB. This was part of a general re-organisation. At the beginning of the war, the FAB were formed attached to the Militarys Divisions. In 1914, the 1st and 2nd Divisions each had three brigades equipped with each F.A.B having twelve 18 pound guns. In March 1916, a fourth Battery was created of four 18 pounder field guns was added. At the same time, a Howitzer Brigade was raised for each division. When the brigades arrived in France, the field Artillery was again re-oreganised, with each F.A.B. having 12 X 18 pounders and 4.5 inch Howitzers. The Howitzer Brigades then became Field Artillery Brigades as well. and, as the F.A.Bs went wherever needed at the Front, it becomes difficult to say where any one individual was stationed.
Alfred Horne was a driver, someone who led the horse teams dragging the artillery to the positions in which they were needed. On 6 October, he was with the 5th F.A.B. in the field, but on 8 October, he was taken on strength of the 7th F.A.B. he probably saw action at Fromelles in July, 1916, then at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm. In April-May 1917, the Australian Brigades fought at Bullecourt, the in June at Messines and in September, Menin Rd and Polygon Wood. On 22 JUly, 1917, Alfred Horne was admitted to the Australian Field Ambulance station, then transferred to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station and on to the 22nd General Hospital at Camieres. His record gives no hint of the problem, merely noting that he was 'sick'. On 13 August, he rejoined the 7th F.A.B in the field, that is, back at the front, so it must have been dealt with swiftly. Following htis he was given leave in England on on 23 September, returning on 4 October.
In 1918, on 8 January, he was taken on the staff of the Australian Corps Headquarters in the field in France, from the 7th F.A.B. He was again given leave to the UK on 12 November, the day after the war ended, returning on 30 Novembetr. By now his war service was over. He left for England on 15 March, 1919, disembarking at Folkestone. On 13 April, he boarded the HT Catalia and was repatriated to Australia, disembarking in Melbourne on 30 May, 1919. On 29 August, he was discharged from the AIF, described as medically unfit, with a 'nasal construction'. There is no other medical information in his file.
In 1924, he was living at 2 Charles St, Jolimont with his wife, and working as a waiter. They remained there until at least 1928; in the 1930s, he was living at 21 Little Collins St., Melbourne with Ellen, and again, working as a waiter. In 1943, he was a houseman, living at 262 Domain Rd., South Yarra.
Alfred Meakins Horne died on 21 December, 1959, but there is little to say where he was, with hte death notice sinply stating 'Park, Victoria'.