Geoffrey Hardinge Phipps-Hornby was born on 4 April 1889, the son of Captain Geoffrey Stanley Phipps-Hornby of the Rifle Brigade, and his wife Jessie (née Gunston). He was the grandson of Admiral Sir Geoffrey Phipps Hornby who was instrumental in the acquisition of the San Juan Islands by the USA. He had many other distinguished relatives Including Sir Derrick Gunston Bt MC, MP for a Gloucestershire constituency, and General Edmund Phipps-Hornby VC of the RHA.
He grew up around horses as his father was a manager and joint owner of the Compton Stud breeding thoroughbreds and hunters. He was educated at Eton and went to Sandhurst, passing out in 1909. He was initially an officer in the Rifle Brigade but transferred to the 9th Lancers in 1911, promoted to lieutenant on 8 May 1912. In 1914 he was seconded to work on the staff and was ADC to Brigadier-General de Lisle in the 2nd Cavalry Brigade. He was a captain in 1915 and brevet-major in 1919, mentioned in despatches three times. He had lost several relatives in WW1 so his family gave thanks for his homecoming by commissioning a stained glass window dedicated to his safe return, in the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Somerton.
He was married, on 22 July 1924, to Rosie Eileen May Daly and they had two daughters. He was an accomplished point-to-point rider and polo player. He was a member of the British Polo Team that played against America in the Westchester Cup in 1924. He served as an officer in the North Somerset Yeomanry until 1928. He returned to active service in 1939 at the age of 50 and was promoted to colonel. He was appointed CBE in 1946 and retired to Lordington near Chichester. He died there on 23 February 1967.
