Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of James Edward Brown a coal miner, born 1873 in Lambeth, London and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (nee Mee, married in the April quarter of 1892 in Leicestershire), born in the January quarter of 1876 in Markfield, Leicestershire and baptised on the 16th April 1876 in All Saint’s Church, Newtown Linford, Leicestershire (daughter of Tom Mee, 1847-1895 and Eliza Callis, 1850-1916). Harry Edward was born in the April quarter of 1897 in Markfield and was baptised on the 12th July 1897 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, his siblings were Florence Eva, born in the July quarter of 1892 and baptised on the 12th March 1893 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, Samantha Lavinia, born 1896 and was baptised on the 12th July 1897 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield and Lilian Ethel, born in the April quarter of 1899 and baptised on the 13th May 1900 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, all his siblings were born in Markfield, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Markfield. In April 1911 Harry was employed as a farm labourer and was residing in the family home at Main Street, Markfield, together with his father, a quarry trade worker, his mother and siblings, Lilian, a schoolgirl, Horace William, a schoolboy, born on the 19th February 1902 and baptised on the 27th April 1902 in SS. Michael & All Saint’s Church, Markfield, Eliza Alice, a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1903 and baptised on the 15th January 1904 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, Tom Mee, a schoolboy, born on the 21st May 1905 and baptised on the 25th June 1905 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, Daisy Winifred, born in the July quarter of 1908 and baptised on the 28th June 1909 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield and Wilfred, born in the January quarter of 1911 and baptised on the 26th November 1911 in SS. Michael & All Angel’s Church, Markfield, the latter five siblings were all born in Markfield.
Harry’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
All that is known of Harry’s period of military service is that he had enlisted/attested in Coalville, Leicestershire into the Corps of Royal Engineers, and had been allotted the service number 196331. He is then recorded as having been posted as a Sapper to the 198th Quarrying Company. With the exception of the War Diary entries, that relate to his unit’s activities, movements and daily occurrences, there is no information regarding Harry’s military service, exhaustive searches have also failed to discover his medal entitlements and as such it is unclear when or where he first entered the theatre of war. It can be safely assumed that he would have been awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. The only information that has been discovered is that he died in the 30th General Hospital, Sangatte, on the 24th November 1917 having sustained accidental injuries, he was buried in Les Baraques Military Cemetery in Sangatte, France. The inscription on his CWGC Headstone reads: - “He has done his duty to his Redeemer and to King and Country, Rest in Peace.”
On the 18th June 1918 his mother was awarded a weekly Army Pension of five shillings to commence on the 4th June 1918.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday November 30th, 1917.

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Mr and Mrs Edward Brown, Council Houses, Markfield learn that their son, Sapper Hy. Brown (20), was accidently killed last week. He had just returned from a fortnight’s leave.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 1st, 1918

LOCAL CHIT CHAT

Sapper H. E. Brown, R.E., 20, of Markfield, met with an accident while working in a quarry in France, and died two days afterwards. He was laid to rest in an adjoining cemetery, being accorded full military honours. Lieutenant Preston, conveying the sad news to his parents, spoke of him as a willing worker, a smart soldier, and one who undoubtedly would have gained promotion. He had been at the quarry for 16 months, and previous to joining up worked for the Cliffe Hill Granite Company, Markfield.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby. 29/12/2017.