Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Browton a dyer’s labourer, born 1861 in Whaplode Marsh, Lincs., and his wife Jane, born 1865 in Cotes, Leics. Herbert was born in 1890 in Loughborough, Leics., he had one sibling, a brother William, born 1887 in Loughborough, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at 7, Warner Lane, Loughborough, Leics. In April 1911 Herbert was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India. The War Diary for today records that the Battalion was in the Beaucamp Sector. Quiet night on our front, zero day and hour notified as 20th November at 6.20am. At 6.10am tanks commenced to move forward. At 6.20am the barrage opened, infantry and tanks by this time were well under way. Our left section of tanks began to go at right angles to his correct course. This was adjusted and the attack moved steadily forward. Enemy barrage very slow in opening and very weak indeed. No regular barrage line established simply -?- shelling. The attack was very successful. The tanks breached very strong belts of wire with ease and the following infantry had no difficulty in passing through the gaps made. The enemy appeared to be taken completely by surprise, and put up practically no opposition. All objectives were taken without difficulty and at 9.30am Battalion HQ’s was established in Unseen Trench at K.36 at 87.50. The casualties sustained by the Battalion in penetrating the Hindenburg Line were, killed 1 officer (2nd Lieutenant A. K. Purdy) and 4 other ranks, wounded 4 officers and 44 other ranks. At 9.30am Company’s were in positions as follows:- Unseen Support Trench (This was the final objective of the Battalion) D Company plus 1 platoon B Company right. A Company plus 1 platoon of B Company left. Unseen Trench B Company less 2 platoons right. Battalion HQ’s centre. C Company left. The attack continued throughout the morning and all Brigade objectives were captured after very slight opposition and during the afternoon the cavalry were being pushed forward past the positions occupied by the Battalion. The Battalion captured 37 prisoners, 3 Heavy Machine Guns, 3 Light Machine Guns, 1 Heavy Trench Mortar and 2 Aerial Dart Machines. The Battalion consolidated and remained in the captured trenches. Prisoners captured belonged to the 387th Regiment and were most conspicuous by reason of the strength of their opposition or by their soldierly bearing.