Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Wilfred Moss CBE, a solicitor, born in the April quarter of 1868 in Loughborough, Leicestershire (son of William Moss and Annie Godkin) and his wife Elizabeth Maud Moss (nee Harding, married in the January quarter of 1892 in Loughborough), born in the October quarter of 1862 in Loughborough (daughter of James Harding and Elizabeth Russell). Howard James Harding was born in the July quarter of 1896 in Loughborough, his siblings were, Nora Harding, born on the 12th April 1893 and Kenneth Wilfred Harding, born in the October quarter of 1900, both his siblings were born in Loughborough, in March 1901 the family home was at 3, Burton Street, Loughborough. In April 1911 Howard was absent from the family home at The Knoll, Nanpantan, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a solicitor, his mother and siblings, Norah, Ewart Ray Harding, born in the October quarter of 1904 and Malcolm Harding, born on the 13th January 1906, the latter two siblings were both born in Loughborough, meanwhile Howard was a schoolboy and was residing as a boarder at 1, Athol Road, Alexandra Park, South Manchester, Lancashire.
Howard’s Army enlistment documents were not researched, and as such all that is known of his military service is that he was commissioned into the Leicestershire Regiment, and was posted as a 2nd Lieutenant to the 1/5th Territorial Force Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, and it was to join this Battalion that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 24th August 1915. Nothing further is know of his military service until he was reported on the 13th October 1915 to have been killed in action during the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt. He was buried in Cabaret-Rouge British cemetery in Souchez, France. Howard was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
An account of the events of the 12th and 13th October 1915.
On the 12th October 1915 the Battalion marched the ten miles from the village of Hesdigneul to the Redoubt in “fighting order”, with great coats rolled and strapped to their backs. They arrived at 10.00 pm at Vermelles, and the following eight hours were spent packed solid in communication trenches. Each soldier carried six sandbags and every third a shovel. As you could imagine, none of them slept and the lucky ones had a drink before our artillery opened up at noon on the 13th October. The enemy artillery responded fifteen minutes later, and at 1.00 pm we released chlorine gas, and disastrously for us an enemy shell shattered some containers in our frontline. At 2.00 pm our troops, many wearing gas helmets went “over the top” and bayonet charged the enemy positions. Terrific machine gun fire tore into them and a shrapnel barrage added to the heavy casualties. Hours passed and furious hand to hand fighting took place and repeated bayonet charges drove the enemy back, who, in turn counter attacked. After darkness fell Lance Corporal Clayson of the 1/5th Battalion saved many lives by dragging wounded back to our trenches, and Captain Barton spent hours in No Man’s land giving morphine and water to the dying. When food and drink was brought up during the night the men had their first meal for twenty four hours, but still no sleep. The morning of the fourteenth was very misty and this became smog as the Germans continued to use shrapnel and gas shells throughout the day. It was at 8.00am on the fifteenth that the relief was completed and buses took most of our troops back to Hesdigneul. The 1/5th Battalion lost four officers, six wounded, two gassed and thirty five men killed, one hundred and thirty two wounded and twenty two gassed.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00 am Battalion in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00 pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50 pm. At 2.00 pm assault. 5th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 4th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by Machine Gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Company officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00 pm “B” Company sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by “A” and part of “D” Companies. Machine Guns in position along original front line now held by “C” Company and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30 pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front line trench. Many of “A” and “B” Companies still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
On Wednesday, October 20th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – DEATH OF LIEUTENANT MOSS. – Killed Leading his Men. – Deep sympathy will be felt for Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred Moss, of the Knoll, Nanpantan, Loughborough, who have just learned of the death of their eldest son, Lieutenant Howard James Harding Moss, in the action of October 13th. Lieutenant Moss was only 19 years of age, and was a most promising young officer, exceedingly popular with the men of the First 5th Leicester’s. He was educated at Loughborough Grammar School and at Hulme School, Manchester, afterwards entering the business of W. Moss and Sons, Ltd., contractors, Loughborough. He was for some time assistant scoutmaster of the Nanpantan Troop of Boy Scouts. In August last year he obtained a commission in the 5th Leicester’s, and was then attached to the Second 5th at Luton and St. Alban’s, and while at the latter place was promoted Lieutenant. He was very keen for active service, and relinquishing his star joined the 5th Leicester’s at the front as second-lieutenant. Writing to Mr. Wilfred Moss, Lieutenant Colonel C, H. Jones, commanding the 5th Leicester’s says: “ You will doubtless have heard officially already of the death of your son. I am so very sorry about it. I had only just written to you to say how much I valued him. We were in attack on the 13th October, and your son was splendid. He did all that duty and honour could demand. He was killed leading his men in battle, and when that has been said all that can be said has been said. In all sympathy with you in your great sorrow.”

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday October 22nd, 1915

Death of Lieut. Moss - Killed leading his men

Deep sympathy will be felt for Mr and Mrs Wilfred Moss, of the Knoll, Nanpantan, Loughborough, who have just learned of the death of their eldest son, Lieutenant Howard James Harding Moss, in the action of October 13th. Lieut. Moss was only 19 years of age, and was a promising young officer, exceedingly popular with the men of the First 5th Leicesters. He was educated at Loughborough and at Hume School, Manchester, afterwards entering the business of W. Moss and Sons, Ltd., contractors, Loughborough. He was for some time assistant scoutmaster of the Nanpantan Troop of Boy Scouts. In August last year he obtained a commission in the First 5th Leicesters, and was then attached to the Second 5th at Luton and St. Albans, and while at the latter place was promoted lieutenant. He was very keen for active service, and relinquishing his star, joined the 5th Leicesters at the front as second-lieutenant.

Writing to Mr Wilfred Moss, Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. Jones, commanding the 5th Leicesters says, “You will doubtless have heard officially already of the death of your son. I am so very sorry about it. I had only just written to you to say how much I valued him. We were in the attack on the 13th October and your son was splendid. He did all that duty and honour could demand. He was killed leading his men in battle, and when that has been said, all that can be said has been said. In all sympathy with you in your great sorrow.”

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 09/09/2017