Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Archer a framework knitter, born 1852 in Owthorpe, Nottinghamshire and his wife Elizabeth Archer (nee Foster, married on the 4th October 1874 in St. Paul’s Church, Hyson Green, Nottingham), born 1859 in Basford, Nottinghamshire. Harry was born in the 3rd quarter of 1889 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 25th August 1889 in Barrow upon Soar Parish Church, his siblings were Mary Elizabeth, a framework knitter, born 1878 in Hyson Green, Nottinghamshire, Ada Hannah, a schoolgirl, born 1883 in Hyson Green, Nottinghamshire, Ethel Mary, a schoolgirl, born 1885 in Radford, Nottinghamshire and Edith Ellen, a schoolgirl, born 1887 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in 1891 the family home was at the Cottages, South End, Barrow upon Soar. In March 1901 Harry was residing in the family home at The Nook, Barrow upon Soar, together with his mother and siblings, Ada, a hosiery trade winder, Ethel, a hosiery trade winder, Laura, born 1893and was baptised on the 23rd July 1893 in Barrow upon Soar Parish Church and Eva, born 1900 and baptised on the 1st July 1900 in Barrow upon Soar Parish Church, the latter two siblings were both born in Barrow upon Soar. In April 1911 Harry was absent from the family home at Nook Lane, Barrow upon Soar, residing there was his widowed mother and siblings, Laura, a hosiery trade worker and Eva, a schoolgirl, Harry was employed as a framework knitter and was residing at New Street, Barrow upon Soar in the family home of his married sister, Henrietta Flude, born 1876 in Nottingham, together with her husband Edward Flude, a general labourer, born 1873 in Leicester and their children, Cyril, a shoe trade worker, born 1897 and Sydney, born 1907, both children were born in Barrow upon Soar.
Harry enlisted into the Regular Army on the 4th October 1915 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, and was allotted the service number 21283. He gave his place of birth as Barrow on Soar, Leicestershire and age as 26 years 63 days. Marital status as single and his trade or calling as Artificial stone finisher.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 6¼ inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34½ inches, his physical development was described as fair, he gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Elizabeth Archer, Nook Lane, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. At Loughborough.4/10/15.
Posted. 10th Bn. Leicestershire Regiment. Details.
Joined. 10th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 5/10/15.
Embarked. B.E.F. France. 15/3/16.
Posted. 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 16/3/16.
37th Infantry Brigade Depot. Etaples. 31/3/16.
Proceed. To join 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 1/4/16.
Joined. 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 2/4/16.
Killed in Action. In the Field. 14/7/16.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Harry’s surviving service record amounts to a total of twenty seven pages, and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information relating to his army service in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 14 Jul-16 - FRICOURT. Battalion moved off at 12.15am and moved up to the southern edge of MAMETZ WOOD. Fairly heavy shelling. They reached the reserve position MAMETZ WOOD 500 yards west of the front edge at 3.20am just as intense bombardment of German trenches began, and either went into existing trenches or dug in. At 5.20am “B” Company (Captain ANDERSON) and 1 platoon of “A” Company moved over to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD to reinforce the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT They finally reached the north of the wood of village and as far as possible dug themselves in. They were mixed up with the 6th, 7th and 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Heavy casualties including all Company officers. At 6.00am remainder of “A” Company moved to German 1st line trench and started to consolidate it. 2 platoons of “C” Company taken to Brigade Headquarters for carrying. At 8.15am Lieutenant Colonel HAIG with “D” Company and ½ of “C” Company moved to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG had orders to take over defence on the north western and western edge of the wood which was being heavily shelled. At 8.45am “D” Company (Lieutenant NOLAN) directed on the north western corner of the wood to clear wood and dig in on the edge. 2 platoons of “C” Company in support trench with Battalion Headquarters. Between 9.00am and 12.00 noon “D” Company met with heavy opposition and reached forward support line but failed to clear wood. Lieutenant NOLAN was killed. Lieutenant de LISLE and Lieutenant SMITH were wounded. Between 12.00 noon and 3.00pm Germans threatened counter attack, very heavy shelling of all lines. “A” Company brought to Battalion Headquarters and 2 platoons sent to reinforce 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. At 12.00 noon Colonel KUMME, 2 officers and 30 men captured by “D” Company. Between 4.00pm and 7.00pm Brigadier came and ordered all available men to attack the north western edge of the wood. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG, Captain EMMETT and 2nd Lieutenant STEPHENS with about 50 men advanced roping in about 100 men of 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT as supports. Captain EMMETT with 40 men reached the north western edge of the wood and killed 4 German observers and attempted to charge the German trenches 50 yards from the edge of the wood. Captain EMMETT and 36 men were killed by machine gun fire. Meanwhile Lieutenant Colonel HAIG with the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT and a few of the 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT had reached the railway line and came under enfilade machine gun fire (Lieutenant STEPHENS was killed). The edge of the wood close to the village was cleared and a small drive was organised towards Captain EMMETT’S party. They came under heavy sniping fire and Lieutenant HINCKLEY was wounded and most of his men killed or wounded. 7.00pm all posts started consolidating where they were. Patrols sent out constantly from the strong posts. Rough positions as below (On the Battalion Diary page a rough sketch shows the positions of the Companies) Between 9.00pm and 11.00pm heavy shelling and enemy rifle fire but no actual organised attack.
On Friday August 18th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – BARROW CASUALTIES. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, of Lovett’s Yard, Barrow, have received official information that their son, Sergt. C. Smith, of the Sherwood Foresters, was killed in action on August 2nd somewhere in France. Before enlisting on the outbreak of war, Sergt. Smith, who was 23 years old, had served three years on the police force, first with the Metropolitan, and then with the Newark Borough Police. Mr. and Mrs. T. Hames, of Barrow, have received official information that their son, Pte. Wm. Hames of the Leicester’s, has been wounded in the side, whilst in action in France, and has been conveyed to a hospital in Birmingham. Mrs. Archer Nook-lane, Barrow, has received news from a chaplain with the Leicester’s that her only son, Pte. Harry Archer was killed in action on July 14th. The chaplain in his letter of condolence to the mother, speaks of the high esteem in which Pte. Archer was held by the whole company, and of his popularity. Pte. Archer, who was 26 years of age, enlisted about a year ago.