Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harriot Dormer, born on the 27th September 1867 in Wooton, Warwickshire and baptised as Harriett on the 3rd June 1868 in St. Michael’s Church, Coventry (daughter of Joseph Dormer, 1835-1910 and Esther Green, 1835-1909). Harry was born in 1891 in Leeds, Yorkshire and baptised as Henry Green on the 19th April 1896 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester.
Harry’s mother married Henry Green on the 22nd May 1893 in St. Peter’s Church, Coventry,
In March 1901 Harry was residing in the family home at 37, Linden Street, Nottingham, together with his step father Henry Green, a railway goods guard, born on the 14th November 1867 in Coventry, Warwickshire and baptised on the 3rd June 1868 in St. Michael’s Church, Coventry (son of John Green, 1838 and Libra Poultney, 1834) and his mother and half-blood siblings were, Horace Dormer, born in the January quarter of 1894 in Coventry and baptised on the 19th April 1896 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester, Hilda Muriel, born on the 1st March 1896 in Leicester and baptised on the 19th April 1896 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester and Archibald Oliver, born in the July quarter of 1900 in Nottingham and baptised on the 29th August 1900 in Emmanuel Church, Nottingham, in March 1901 the family home was at.
In April 1911 Harry was employed as an uncertificated teacher and was residing in the family home at 37, Leopold Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire together with his father, a railway goods guard, his mother and half-blood siblings Horace, a boot trade finisher, Hilda an office clerk, Archibald, a schoolboy and Cecil Howard, born in the April quarter of 1906 in South Wigston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 10th June 1906 in the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, Glen Parva & South Wigston.
In June 1921 Harry’s widow Beatrice was residing at Sawley House, Leopold Street, South Wigston together with her daughter Eileen, both Beatrice and Eileen recorded themselves with the surname of Green.
FAMILY NOTES: Harry Green remains an enigma, no trace of his birth under the name of Harry Dormer can be traced, but he was quite clearly born before his mother Harriett’s marriage to Henry Green on the 22nd May 1893. Harry first appears in the 1901 census together with his mother, stepfather and half-blood siblings, he again appears in the 1911 census together with his family.
Harry’s identity now becomes complex, because in the October quarter of 1912 he married Beatrice Eleanor Moore, in the Blaby Leicestershire district, using the assumed name of Archibald Robinson. Beatrice was born on the 22nd December 1886 in Aylestone, Leicester, the daughter of John Moore, 1857 and Sarah Atkins, 1857.
Beatrice and Harry had a daughter, Eileen Madge Robinson, born on the 12th October 1914 in South Wigston, Eileen was also registered at birth under the surname of Green. The family at this time resided at Sawley House, Leopold Street, South Wigston.
When the June 1921 census took place Beatrice and her daughter Eileen were recorded with the surname of Green.
MILITARY NOTE: The true family name is Green, Harry.
Archibald’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, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 2/27033.
Posted. To 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Transferred. To Training Reserve Battalion. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 5/52134.
Transferred. To East Yorkshire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 37365.
Transferred. To Corps of Royal Engineers. Sapper. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 312941.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Transferred. To 4th Field Survey Company, Royal Engineers. Spr. Date not known.
Killed in action. In the Field. 8/5/18.
Buried in Borre British Cemetery, Nord, France. Headstone inscription. “A noble life for a noble cause.”
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Archibald nominated his wife Beatrice E., as his sole legatee.
On the 9th November 1918, Harry’s widow Beatrice Eleanor, of Lawley House, Leopold Street, South Wigston, Leicestershire was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of twenty shillings and five pence, for herself and her daughter, commensurate on the 18th November 1918. In the Pension record Archibald Robinson is recorded as alias H. Green.
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