Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Thomas Forsell, a lamb’s wool and worsted spinner, born 1871 in Leicester and his wife Elizabeth Forsell (nee North, married in the 4th quarter of 1893 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), and who was the daughter of Peter Meadows and Ann North of Houghton on the Hill, Leicestershire, born 1869 in Houghton on the Hill. Allen Richard was born on the 12th June 1894 in Bushby, Leicestershire, and was baptised on the 14th July 1894, also residing with the family was Allen’s maternal great Uncle, John North, a retired farmer, born 1831 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire and his wife Elizabeth North (nee Tailby, married in the 2nd quarter of 1860 in the Billesdon, Leicestershire district), born 1836 in Houghton on the Hill, and their daughter, Allen’s aunt, Mary Hannah North, born 1867 in Houghton on the Hill, in March 1901 the family home was at Winkadale, Bushby. In April 1911 Allen was absent from the family home at Winkadale, Bushby, residing there was his father, a worsted spinner, his mother and sibling, Dorothy Grace, born 1904 in Barsby, Leicestershire, also residing with the family was Allen’s widowed maternal grandfather, John North, a retired farmer and his maternal aunt, Mary North, Allen was a scholar at Uppingham School and was residing as a boarder at Redgate, London Road, Uppingham, Rutland. Allen’s father was an Alderman of the City of Leicester and also a Justice of the Peace, he was the owner of Messrs. T. Forsell and Son, Spinners, Frog Island and 12, Littleton Street, Leicester. The Village Hall at Houghton on the Hill was given by Allen’s father in loving memory of his son.
Allen was educated at Uppingham (Redgate) where he was for three years a member of the Cadet Corps., and Leeds University, where he was a member of the O.T.C., he was gazetted on the 6th August 1914, two days after war was declared, and was promoted Lieutenant on the 14th April 1915, and Temporary Captain on the 18th June 1915, but reverted to Lieutenant on embarking for France on the 22nd August 1915, he served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the 22nd August 1915, and was killed in action during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on the 13th October. Colonel Oliver wrote, “During the time your son was in the Battalion he endeared himself to all ranks, and was highly esteemed,” and Colonel Martin in command on the day of the fight wrote, “I am inclined to think from what was reported to me at the time that he was able to get further forward than the great majority of the officers, and that he and … were both shot at the extreme point reached by our men. He was a very hard working and useful officer, his former training having stood him in good stead, and he was able to take his full share of responsibility.” His Captain also wrote, “Dick was an excellent fellow in every way, he was not long in D Company, but long enough to be appreciated, and he was a real sportsman off parade. He is a serious loss.” Allan was unmarried.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 - At 9.00 am Battalion marched to SAILLY LABOURSE. Dinners and teas were cooked here. Rations for 134 men issued. At 5.15 pm Battalion marched to VERMELLES where stores were taken up. At 11.00 pm Battalion arrived in trenches.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned.
The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Wednesday, October 20th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – 1st-4th LEICESTER’S IN ACTION. – HEAVY CASUALTIES. – Eight Officers Killed. – It is with profound regret that we have to confirm the rumours that have been so persistently in circulation the last few days, that the 1st/4th Leicester’s have suffered severe losses. The battalion was in action on October 13, and how they suffered may be judged from the list of officers whose deaths have been officially notified to their relatives. The receipt of the news yesterday caused a painful sensation in the town, and the sympathy of all will go out to the relatives of those who have fallen. It is impossible at present to obtain anything like a complete list of the casualties among non-commissioned officers and men. The following are the names and rank of the officers.
KILLED.
Captain PARR, son of Mr. J. G. Parr, veterinary surgeon, Humberstone-gate.
Captain FAIRE, son of Mr. Arthur W. Faire, J.P., county director of the V.A.D.
Lieutenant ROBERT CLIVE HARVEY, son of Col. R. Harvey.
Lieutenant T. WHITTINGHAM, son of the Rev. W. G. Whittingham, vicar of Knighton.
Lieutenant GREEN, son of Mr. Septimus J. Green, Fosse-road Central, of the firm G. Green and Son, shoe manufacturers, Ash-street.
Lieutenant FORSELL, son of Mr. John Thos. Forsell, of Barkby, and carrying on business as a spinner, in Frog Island.
Lieutenant GUY RUSSELL, son of Mr. Walter Russell, of B. Russell and Sons, hosiery manufacturers, Western Boulevard.
Lieutenant WALTERS, son of Mr. Wm. Walters, a director of Messrs. Stead and Simpson’s, boot and shoe manufacturers.
To this list should be added the name of Lieut. BLUNT, whose death in hospital from wounds received in the same action has already been reported.
And in the same edition, under the heading. THE FALLEN OFFICERS. – Leiut. FORSELL, who was 21 years of age, and was born at the residence of his father, Mr. J. T. Forsell, of Winkadale, Bushby, was educated at Uppingham and Leeds University, belonging to the Officers’ Training Corps at each place. He joined the 1st/4th’s in August last year, being a supernumerary officer. He was afterwards transferred to the 2nd/4th’s, but was then re-transferred to the 1st, and joined them in France some little time ago.
On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour of former pupils, this records that Allan attended the school between the years 1903 and 1906.