Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Barwell a farm waggoner, born 1861 in Rolleston, Leicestershire and his wife Hannah Barwell, born 1868 in Sapcote, Leicestershire. Harry Reginald was born in the 2nd quarter of 1899 in Leicester, his siblings were Alice May, born 1889 in Huncote, Leicestershire, Mary Ann, born 1891 in Salford, Lancashire, John William, born 1894 in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, Arthur Ernest, born in the 4th quarter of 1896 in Leicester, Sydney Edgar, born 1905 in Three Pots, Leicestershire and Elsie Margaret, born 1908 in Cross in Hand, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Sowe Fields, Walsgrave on Sowe, Warwickshire, this being situated within the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Mary’s, Sowe. In April 1911 Harry was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Welton, Daventry, Northamptonshire, together with his father a farm waggoner, his mother, a laundress, and siblings, John, a farm labourer, Sydney and Elsie, also residing in the family home was Harry’s widowed Grandmother Mary Ann Grumble, born 1835 in Hoby, Leicestershire. Harry’s elder brother Arthur died from disease.
The War Diary records: 29 Sept-18 – VILLERS GUISLAIN. 1.00am. Issued written orders to Companies. 3.00am. “A” and “C” Companies moved up to front line. 4.40am. “B” and “D” Companies moved out of trench and to assembly tapes. “B” Company on right “D” on left formed up on a 250 yard front in 2 waves of 2 lines each. “A” Company moved into front line. No. 9 Platoon “C” Company took up position 60 yards in front of a pocket of enemy in LIMERICK TRENCH. All were assembled and ready by 5.40am unnoticed by enemy. 5.50am. Barrage opened and Trench Mortars bombarded enemy pocket. 5.54am. “B” and “D” Companies moved forward followed by “A” Company in lines of sections in column. 3 enemy light machine guns opened fire from the German post in front of our line but the men cheered and charged the line killing a few and taking one or two prisoners, the remainder of the garrison running away. The fog at this time was moderately thick. Meanwhile No. 9 Platoon of “C” Company assaulted the German pocket in LIMERICK TRENCH and succeeded in bombing to X.15.d.5.7. where the enemy made a stand but after a bomb fight the advance continued and they cleared the trench to within 40 yards of the road, 12 enemy being killed and a couple of prisoners being taken in the operation with a loss of only 4 men. 6.00am. The main advance in the meantime encountered stiff machine gun fire from both flanks on the right from the direction of KILDARE TRENCH and machine guns in GLOSTER ROAD and on the left from Cross Roads X.15.d.9.9. The centre however managed to make progress and get across GLOSTER ROAD which the flanks were engaged in a fire fight in which the light guns of all Companies took part in out firing the enemy fire and after about 15 minutes the whole line advanced once more, all three Companies being mixed up by this time. Casualties approximately 3 officers, 80 other ranks. The few enemy nests directly on the line of advance did not give much trouble as they fled when the line got near them but those on the flanks who were not directly -?- by the advance kept on firing. The fog kept on getting thicker all the time which lessened the casualties but made keeping in touch and direction difficult. 6.20am. As the advance continued the left flank came under heavy machine gun fire from Cross Roads at X.16. central. The left flank formed round and started moving Northwards to engage these guns the remainder kept on moving on to objective thus creating a gap. This party gradually decreased till it numbered only 12 under Lieutenant JOHNSTONE all touch having been lost with the remainder. 6.45am. They halted about X.16.D.5.6. and Lieutenant JOHNSTONE reconnoitred to the right but could find no trace of the rest of the Battalion. The position being untenable Lieutenant JOHNSTONE was ordered to withdraw by Captain LAMBURTON. 7.05am. GLOSTER ROAD was examined on the way back with a view to digging in and holding on but this was also found to be untenable owing to deadly enfilade machine gun fire from X Roads to the North and a further withdrawal was made to the old German position in front of LIMERICK TRENCH. About 30 prisoners were taken during this withdrawal and the party which with the addition of stragglers picked up on the way back now numbered 30 started putting these positions in a state of defence. At 8.15am a message arrived from Lieutenant BRODIE to say that he was digging in with about 60 men elements of all Companies on a line approximately X.16.d.3.3. – X.16.d.6.4. and asking for instructions. THE WORCESTER’S were found to be in their original positions and not to have advanced accordingly a messenger was sent to Lieutenant BRODIE to withdraw his men on to the position which was being consolidated. This messenger was unfortunately captured and the message did not get to Lieutenant BRODIE. At this time a further advance was made up LIMERICK TRENCH to the road, No.11 Platoon having reinforced No.9 and the advance was continued along LEITH WALK to X Roads X.15.d.9.9. where a strong post was established. This caused the enemy to evacuate the posts in MEATH TRENCH and small parties were dealt with by light gun fire. Fog getting thicker. 10.30am. Fog cleared. Another message received from Lieutenant BRODIE asking for instructions. Enemy were observed dribbling up STORER AVENUE and massing in the TARGELLE VALLEY. Considerable shelling of our new line and old front line and heavy machine gun fire from different point in front. Artillery was asked to fire on targets. 10.45am. Enemy attacked and cut off Lieutenant BRODIE’S party. He put a Trench Mortar on to them and machine guns fired on them from LEITH WALK, under cover of this he worked round their right flank reached there taking about 50 prisoners. Lieutenant BRODIE escaped capture by feigning death and later managed to get back to our line. 11.00am. All advanced post withdrawn to our old front line and every available man made to stand to in the line expecting attack. The enemy however did not attempt to exploit his success further and the situation became easier. The Pioneer Platoon was sent up as a reinforcement. The remainder of the day was spent in organising for defence. Our front was shortened the WORCESTER’S taking over from the right of MEATH Posts. Casualties at this time 9 officers, 350 other ranks. During the evening and night a few stragglers managed to regain our line. The enemy approached close at night but not to his most advanced position. During the night 36 wounded were brought in. Patrols were withdrawn at 12 midnight on account of bombardment. There was the usual amount of Machine gun fire from enemy.