Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Winters, a framework knitter, born 1860 in Thurmaston, Leicestershire and his wife Emma Winters (nee Smith, married in the 4th quarter of 1885 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1861 in Thurmaston. Herbert was born in in the 1st quarter of 1893 in Thurmaston, his siblings were, Leonard, a pottery trade server, born 1887, Ethel, born 1891, Agnes, born 1895 and Elizabeth, born 1899, all his siblings were born in Thurmaston, in March 1901 the family home was at Havelock Cottages, Garden Street, Thurmaston. In April 1911 Herbert was employed as a brickyard worker and was residing in the family home in Thurmaston, together with his father, a glove maker, his mother and siblings, Ethel, a hosiery trade worker, Agnes, a hosiery trade cutter, Elizabeth and Albert, born 1902 in Thurmaston.
Herbert attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 14th October 1915 in Leicester. He gave his home address as 149, Main Street, Thurmaston, Leicester, his age as 24 years and 354 days and his trade or calling as general labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father, John Winters of 149, Main Street, Thurmaston, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9¼ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 35 inches. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 10/21745 on the 14/10/15. Posted to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 15/10/15. Deprived of 2 days pay for absence on the 20/3/16. Posted to the 1st Reserve Garrison Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, and issued with the service number 23725 on the 18/4/16. Posted to the Depot North Staffordshire Regiment on the 20/3/17. Posted to Ripon, attached to the 7th Garrison Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry on the 24/4/17. Charged that on the 7/5/17 he had a dirty entrenching tool handle on guard mounting parade, sentenced to 2 days confined to barracks on the 9/5/17. Charged that on the 12/5/17 he had a dirty rifle on rifle inspection parade at 11.00am, sentence to 4 days confined to barracks on the 14/5/17. Charged that on the 15/5/17 was dirty on guard mounting parade, sentenced to 7 days confined to barracks on the 16/5/17. Charged that on the 28/5/17 he overstayed his pass from 12.00 noon till 9.00pm on the 30/5/17, sentence to 7 days confined to barracks on the 31/5/17. Charged that on the 13/8/17 he was absent from tattoo till reveille on the 14/8/17, sentence to 2 days confined to barracks on the 14/5/17. Transferred to the 2/5th Garrison Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in Salonika, and issued with the service number 75050 on the 16/8/17. Transferred to No.2 Base Depot, Salonika on the 8/9/17. Arrived from No.2 Base Depot on the 19/1/18. Rejoined Battalion in the field on the 3/2/18. Transferred to Brigade Headquarters for duty on the 14/4/18. Reported to Battalion on the 14/6/18. Admitted to 143rd Field Ambulance suffering from malaria on the 2/7/18. Discharged to duty on the 5/7/18. Classified “A” on the 10/9/18. Classified “A” on the 7/10/18. Admitted to “C” Section, 143rd Field Ambulance, Varna, Bulgaria suffering from influenza on the 18/11/18. Died from influenza and pneumonia on the 26/11/18. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 14/10/15 – 19/5/16. British Expeditionary Force, France, 20/5/16 – 19/3/17. Home Service, 20/3/17 – 15/8/17. Salonika, 16/8/17 – 29/11/18. Total service 3 years and 44 days. Herbert was awarded the British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Herbert’s father John Winters on the 13th October 1919, and was witnessed and signed by W. Dawson, Primitive Methodist Minister, “Glenwinnie,” Thurmaston, Leicester on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, John Winters of 149, Main Street, Thurmaston. Mother of soldier, Emma Winters of 149, Main Street, Thurmaston. Full blood brothers of soldier, Leonard Winters, age 33 of 149, Main Street, Thurmaston. Albert Winters, age 18 of 149, Main Street, Thurmaston. Full blood sisters of soldier, Aggie Winters, age 25 of 149, Main Street, Thurmaston. Elizabeth Winters, age 20 of 149, Main Street, Thurmaston. Herbert’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Friday June 23rd 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – THURMASTON SOLDIER WOUNDED. The official list issued on Wednesday contained the following: Wounded, Leicestershire Regiment, 7859 Pte. L. Winters, Thurmaston.