Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Billings a house painter, born 1850 in Stamford, Lincolnshire and his wife Caroline Felicity Billings (nee Goodliffe, married in the 2nd quarter of 1873 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1851 in Oakham, Rutland. Herbert, a schoolboy, was born on the 29th September 1887 in Oakham, his siblings were John Thomas, a postmaster’s assistant, born 1874 in Stamford, Kate, a schoolgirl, born 1881, Joseph, a schoolboy, born 1883, Clara, a schoolgirl, born 1885 and Arthur, born 1890, the latter four siblings were all born in Oakham, in April 1891 the family home was at John Street, Oakham. In March 1901 Herbert was residing in the family home at John Street, Oakham, together with his widowed mother and siblings, John, a post office clerk, Joseph, a railway clerk, Arthur and Nellie, born 30th May 1892 in Oakham also residing in the family home was Herbert’s nephew, Ernest Benge Billings, born on the 11th October 1896 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Herbert was employed as a sorting clerk and telegraphist and was residing in the family home at West Road, Oakham, together with his widowed mother and sibling Nellie and his nephew Ernest, a jeweller’s apprentice. Herbert was a post office clerk prior to the war. At the outbreak of the war he held the rank of Sergeant in the Oakham Company of the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force), embarking for France on the 26th February 1915, and was commissioned on the 11th April 1915 into the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, he was then attached to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embarked for Mesopotamia where he took part in the engagements in the relief of Kut, where he was mentioned in dispatches for his distinguished services at the Battle of Sheikh Soad. Herbert was killed by a bullet near the Sanni Yat position and was buried near the northern end of that place. Herbert was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 6 Apr-16 - The 19th and 28th Bde’s supported by 21st Bde were ordered to carry out a night march with the intention of attacking at dawn. The march was commenced shortly after midnight, in massed formation, 28th Bde on right, 19th Bde on left. Formation of 28th Bde. Front line 51st SIKHS (FRONTIER FORCE) and Provisional Battn OXFORD AND BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY, second line 2nd LEICESTERSHIRE REGT, third line 53rd SIKHS and 56th RIFLES (FRONTIER FORCE). Owing to considerable delay during the march the attacking Bde’s were 1000 yards short of enemy’s position when it was daylight. Suddenly the enemy opened a withering fire. The first lines of the Bde pushed forward to within 800 yards of enemy’s position until compelled to halt through very heavy casualties (our own artillery on right bank of TIGRIS being responsible for a considerable number) when they entrenched. Some 400 yards behind these another line was established and consolidated by some 200 men of the LEICESTERSHIRE REGT and HIGHLAND Battn’s (1st SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS and BLACK WATCH of 19th Bde), the remaining units of both Bde’s extending in rear. Heavy fire was kept up by enemy throughout the day. At dusk the wounded and a few others of the Battn and other units crawled back, and organised stretcher parties were sent out. The following casualties occurred, very early in the Battn. Officers killed 2nd Lt H. BILLINGS, wounded Major R. N. KNATCHBULL D.S.O., Major A. F. R. COLQUHOUN, Capt C. A. BAMFORD, Capt H. N. H. GRIMBLE, Lt H. STOCKLEY, 2nd Lt T. MONAGHAN, 2nd Lt. J. HARBOTTLE, 2nd Lt. H. S. ELLIS. 2nd Lt B. BRAKES was wounded in the afternoon. Other ranks during the 6th April, killed 45, wounded 254, wounded but did not quit Battn 3, missing 19. Major D. L. WEIR D.S.O. reassumed command of the Battn on the afternoon of the 6th April.
On Friday April 21st 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – OAKHAM OFFICER KILLED. Lieutenant H. Billings, Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on the 6th inst. Notification of the event has been received from the War Office by his relatives at 21, Station-road, Oakham. Lieutenant Billings was wounded between the 6th and 8th January, and only rejoined his regiment on the 1st February. He had also been previously wounded last autumn.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Herbert BILLINGS
Second Lieutenant, 9th Battalion attached to 6th Battalion and serving with 2nd Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment.
He was killed in action on 6 April 1916. He was 29.
He was the son of Caroline and the late Joseph Billings of Oakham
He is remembered on panel 12 of the Basra Memorial
Additional information
Neither the 6th or 9th Battalions were in the Middle East. So this record is incorrect. The 2nd Battalion was and he was probably posted to 2nd Battalion and the paperwork did not catch up.
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M Allbrook 2013