Charles Beck Hornby, DSO, JP (7 February 1883 – 10 January 1949) was a British cavalryman.

Hornby was educated at Harrow School and was commissioned as an ensign in the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards in 1901.

Following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Hornby was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), as second-in-command of C Squadron of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, under Major Tom Bridges.

[3] Authors Desmond and Jean Bowen note that the historian of the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards says that Thomas "undoubtedly fired the first British shot of the war ... [while] Hornby was the first man to kill a German."

For his efforts, Captain Hornby was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, gazetted in February 1915,[5] but he was seriously wounded a few weeks after the engagement.

He was promoted to major in March 1916, with effect from August 1915,[6] and served in the War Office in England as GSO Grade 3 in 1916 and 1917.