Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the only son of Francis Strange Brice J.P. a hosiery manufacturer, born 1867 in Northampton and his wife Margaret Alice Brice (nee Kilner, married in the 2nd quarter of 1892 in the Leicester district), born 1867 in Oldham, Lancashire. Henry Copeland was born on the 28th November 1893 in Leicester, his siblings were Elsie Margaret, born 1897 and Winifred Marjorie, born 1901, both his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at Elms Road, Knighton, Leicester. In April 1911 Henry was absent from the family home in Stoughton Drive, Oadby, Leicestershire, residing there was his father, a hosiery manufacturer, his mother and siblings, Elsie and Winifred, Henry was a pupil boarder at Mill Hill Public Secondary School, Hendon, Middlesex.
Henry received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant on the 10th May 1913. When war was declared he volunteered for Imperial Service, was gazetted Lieutenant on the 22nd October 1914 and died at Bailleul, France on the 10th June 1915, of wounds caused by the premature explosion of a rifle grenade at Dranoutre, Belgium. He was buried at Bailleul, France. His Commanding Officer wrote, “I cannot forbear saying how profoundly I regret his death, and how great a loss he is to the Battalion. He was the Grenade Officer and had charge of the bomb throwers. His work in that position was of high quality. He was absolutely fearless, and I believe that his men would have followed him anywhere. He was of the type of which leaders are made, and the army can ill afford to lose such men.”
Henry first entered the theatre of war in France on the 3rd March 1915. He was awarded the 1915 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 9 Jun-15 - At 10.00am Brigadier General visited trenches. Lieutenant G. N. IAN reported at Battalion Headquarters for duty as temporary adjutant. At 5.00pm Commanding Officer visited trenches. Returned at 11.30pm. Wind mild northerly. Note: Hostile aeroplane was observed about 7.00am flying from a northerly direction. Casualties, wounded Lieutenant H. C. BRICE was seriously wounded by the premature explosion of a converted Hales rifle grenade about 4.00pm. He subsequently died at 11.25am on the 10th May 1915 in No. 3 Casualty Clearing Hospital, Bailleul.
On Monday June 14th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL NEWS.” – DEATHS. – BRICE. – On the 11th inst., from wounds received in Belgium, Lieutenant Henry Copeland Brice, 4th Batt. Leicestershire Regt., aged 21, only son of Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Brice, “Middlemeade,” Stoughton Drive.
And in the same issue under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Lieut. H. C. Brice Killed. – Much sympathy will be felt for Mr. and Mrs. F. S. Brice, “Middlemeade,” Stoughton Drive, in the death of their only son, Lieut. H. C. Brice, of the 4th Leicester’s, who died last Friday from the effect of injuries caused the previous day in Belgium by the explosion of a grenade. Lieut. Brice, who was 21 years of age was educated at Mill Hill School, London, and was a member of the School Officers Training Corps. He joined the 4th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment about three years ago, and was a member of the Stoneygate Football Club.
On Tuesday June 15th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL NEWS.” – MR. F. S. BRICE’S BEREAVEMENT. – At a meeting of members held in the Liberal Club, on Monday evening, Ald. S. Patey, J.P., presiding, the following resolution was passed:- “The members of the Leicester and County Liberal Club desire to express their deep sympathy with the president, Mr. F. S. Brice, J.P., and Mrs. Brice in the great bereavement they have sustained by the death of their son, Lieutenant H. C. Brice, at the front.”