Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Caleb Wells, a dairyman, born 1860 in Whetstone, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Wells (nee Kenney, married in the 4th quarter of 1884 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1862 in Whetstone. Harry was born in 1891 in Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was in Belgrave Road, Leicester. In the 1st quarter of 1895 in the Leicester district, Harry’s father died aged 34. In the 3rd quarter of 1901 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, Harry’s widowed mother married widower, Matthias Shenton, who was born on the 15th November 1868 in Whetstone. In the 1st quarter of 1909 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, Harry’s mother died aged 46. In April 1911 Harry was absent from the family home in Brook Street, Whetstone, residing there was his widowed step father, a stone quarry worker, his step sister, Mahala Kind Shenton, born 1st April 1894 in Whetstone and his half blood sibling, Herbert, a schoolboy, born 1st November 1902 in Enderby, Leicestershire. In 2nd quarter of 1913 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, Harry’s step father married Maud M. Wells, born 20th July 1878. In 1939 Harry’s step father, a retired warehouseman, his wife Maud, step sister Mahala, a boot trade machinist and his brother Herbert were all residing in the family home at 26, Victoria Street, Whetstone.
Harry first entered the theatre of war in France on the 12th October 1914, he was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 25 Sept-15 - At 5.30am the Battalion was in positions of readiness in accordance with orders in four lines opposite their objective with bombing parties, sandbag parties and carrying parties all arranged and in position. At 6.00am the first line got over the parapet quickly followed by the second, the left had to right form to get in line with the right as the trench ran back from a salient near the centre. As the first two lines went out the third and fourth filed into the vacant positions in the firing line. The gas affected a number of our men, and the smoke caused a dense fog and direction was difficult. Casualties began at once and the third line was ordered out to fill up gaps. Owing to the thick smoke it seemed likely that gaps would occur on the flanks and at 6.07am the fourth line was sent out with special instructions to maintain touch with the units on either flank. At about 6.10am the left were over the German parapet and our flag was seen flying on their lines. The left went forward with such dash that they outstripped the 2/8th GURKHAS and came in for a lot of fire from rifles and maxim guns from our right. This caused a good many casualties including all the officers and most of the NCO’s of “A” Company which was the extreme left. Undeterred the men went on, got over the uncut wire and reached the road with parties of the 2/8th GURKHAS and gained their objective. In the meantime our right had not fared so well. They went forward in good line under a heavy fire till held up by the German wire. A number of our men here were collected in the ditch in front of the German wire waiting for developments. Officer casualties. Killed Captain F. H. ROMILLY D.S.O., Captain E. C. DEANE, R.A.M.C. Died of wounds 2nd Lieutenant M. W. BROWNE. Wounded Lieutenant Colonel H. GORDON D.S.O., Captain W. C. WILSON, Lieutenant H. H. PHILLIPS, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. TANNER, 2nd Lieutenant H. H. HEMPHILL, 2nd Lieutenant V. E. ELLINGHAM, 2nd Lieutenant C. C. BAILEY, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. GROSSMITH. Slightly wounded Major F. LEWIS, Captain D. L. WEIR. Gassed 2nd Lieutenant W. WILSON. Missing and believed killed Lieutenant W. T. PICKIN, 2nd Lieutenant R. E. S. LODGE. Missing known to have been wounded 2nd Lieutenant C. G. WOODBOURN. Missing and no trace 2nd Lieutenant W. J. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant E. A. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant T. R. LONGCROFT. Rank and file casualties. Killed 72. Wounded 217. Gassed 42. Missing 96. Wounded slightly but did not quit Battalion 3. What was left of the Battalion were relieved from the front line by the 2/39th GARWHAL RIFLES at 6.30pm and moved into support and local reserve just in rear. Before the operations began the Battalion worked for a week in strengthening the front line and preparing the defences behind. Four very strong lines were constructed capable of resisting the enemy’s bombardment.