Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Benjamin Allen a railway goods checker, born in the January quarter of 1863 in St. Nicholas’s, Leicester and baptised on the 23rd August 1863 in St. Martin’s Church, Leicester (son of Henry Allen, 1827-1889 and Amelia Shipman, 1829-1893) and his wife Charlotte Allen (nee Bown, married on the 1st May 1890 in the Registry Office, Leicester), born in the April quarter of 1868 in Whitwick, Leicestershire (daughter of John Bowns, 1841-1872 and Elizabeth Pickard, 1839-1911). Harry Bertrand was born in the October quarter of 1895 in Leicester, his siblings were Horace William, born in the January quarter of 1891, Florence Emily, born in the January quarter of 1894, Harold James, born on the 12th August 1897, Lottie Amelia, born on the 9th January 1899 and baptised on the 1st February 1914 in St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester and Charles Edward, born on the 11th January 1900, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in 1901 the family home was at 214, Green Lane Road, Leicester. In April 1911 Harry was employed as an iron foundry core moulder and was residing in the family home at 53, Shenton Street, Leicester, together with his father, a railway goods checker, his mother and siblings, Horace, a boot trade edge letter, Florence a boot trade skiver, Harold, a schoolboy and newsboy, Lottie, a schoolgirl, Charles, a schoolboy, Amy Elizabeth, born on the 9th March 1902, Grace Evelyn, born on the 8th December 1904 and baptised on the 1st February 1914 in St. Saviour’s Church, Leicester and Reginald John, born on the 20th September 1906, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester. Harry’s older brother Horace, died on the 14th July 1918.
Harry enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 10th September 1914 in Leicester, and was allotted the regimental service number 14451. He gave his place of birth as Leicester and age as 19 years. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as iron moulder.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Leicester on the 10th September 1914 and recorded his birthplace as Leicester, declared age as 19 years, trade or occupation as iron moulder, that he was 5-feet 8½ inches in height, weighed 128 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 33½ and 35½ inches, his physical development was described as good, his vision was described as R.E.-V=D6 L.E.-V=D6. Enlisted at Leicester on the [not recorded]. Joined on enlistment Leicestershire Regt. 9/14451 Transferred to 14th Training Reserve Battalion 6/13167.
He gave his religion as Church of England.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Leicester. 10/9/14.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 10/9/14
Posted. To 9th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 24/9/14.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 19/7/16.
Posted. To 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 12/9/16
Transferred. To 14th Training Reserve Bn. Pte. 7/10/16.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 6/13167.
Embarked. 25/12/16.
Disembarked. 25/12/16.
Joined. 12th Infantry Brigade Depot, Calais. 26/12/16.
Posted. To 9th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 26/12/16.
Posted. To 7th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 10/1/17.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 36295.
Joined. 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. In the Field. 13/1/17.
Awarded. 14 days Field Punishment No.2. 16/3/17.
Awarded. 48 hours Field Punishment No.2 for leaving his post without permission. 14/4/17.
Appointed. Lance Corporal (paid).
Summary of Service.
Total Service. 3 years 200 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
MILITARY NOTE: Harry was reported as wounded and missing in action on the 21st March 1918, and had been taken as a Prisoner of War by the Germans, he was admitted to the German Military Hospital at Le Cateau suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and died on the 28th March, being buried in the Military cemetery in Le Cateau.
The War Diary records: 21 Mar-1918 - On the morning of the 21st March 1918 the disposition of the Battalion was as follows: - “A” Company front right Company, “B” Company left front Company, “C” Company Battalion Reserve/Counter attack Company, “D” Company garrison of PEIZIERE. The 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were on our right and the 12th/13th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS (62nd Infantry Brigade) on our left. 2 Tanks were in reserve at Battalion Headquarters.
At 4.30 am the enemy put down a heavy barrage gas shell bombardment of phosgene and mustard gas on the whole Battalion area and on the gas position in rear. This gradually developed into heavy concentrations of high explosive and shrapnel on the whole of our defences. The bombardment lasted until about 9.30 am. Most of the wire in front of our position front line was destroyed but the wire in front of FIR SUPPORT and the RED LINE was left nearly intact under cover of a very thick mist combined with smoke and dust from bursting shells the enemy was able to cross ‘no man’s land’ without being observed. About 9.30 am the enemy entered PLANE TRENCH and 2nd Lieutenant JAREY who was officer commanding of the observation party left in that trench had only just time to give the S.O.S. signal before the enemy reached him.
10.00 am. The enemy had apparently broken through the front lines of the Battalion on our left and at this hour small parties attacked the northern post MCPHEE and PEIZIERE and got into the RAILWAY CUTTING behind the RED LINE. The detached position of MCPHEE POST was captured about 6 men taken prisoners. At about this hour “C” Company and the Tank were ordered to counter attack and clear PEIZIERE up to the RAILWAY CUTTING. The Tanks proceeded round the northern end of the village and “C” Company by the two roads running north east and east from MCLEAN POST. The village was easily cleared. The enemy retiring from the village and cutting on the approach of the Tanks. One of the men taken prisoner in MCPHEE POST re-joined the Battalion.
11.00 am. On receipt of information that the village was clear “C” Company and the Tanks were withdrawn to their original positions. During the whole of the day the enemy made many futile attacks from the North East on the FIR SUPPORT and the RED LINE attempting to bomb down the latter from new SQUASH TRENCH which he had entered early in the attack. The defence of FIR SUPPORT was conducted by 2nd Lieutenant WRIGHT with about 20 men against numerous bombing attacks in one of which flammenwerfer were used but these were stopped on our wire by rifle fire and the cylinders catching alight the enemy were burnt with their own weapons. Good work was done by the whole of this platoon and particularly by Private HICKIN who on 2 or 3 occasions walked along the parapet firing a Lewis Gun from his hip at the enemy concentrating in the trenches on the flanks. Private HICKIN was eventually killed in making one of these attacks. This platoon held out until dark when with only 6 men left it was ordered to fall back on the RED LINE. In the afternoon the enemy could be seen massing just South of VAUCELLETTE FARM and in LINNET and THRUSH VALLEYS and the large bodies were advancing up ANDREW STREET and LEITH WALK.
5.00 pm. The two Tanks were ordered up to the bridge and scattered the enemy massing in ANDREW STREET.
6.00 pm. The enemy continued to make progress Southwards from VAUCELLETTE FARM and small parties were getting into PEIZIERE. The counter attack Company and the two Tanks were ordered to clear the village. The Tanks and two platoons moving round the Northern outskirts and 2 platoons by road running North East from MCLEAN POST. The village was cleared by 8.00 pm and 5 prisoners sent back. As the left flank of the RED LINE seemed insecure 2 platoons from the counter attack Company were ordered to make a defensive flank facing North from the RAILWAY CUTTING to MCPHEE POST this flank was prolonged by a party of 1 officer and 14 other ranks from Battalion Headquarters which occupied a trench at the junction of the sunken road just north of Battalion Headquarters the remainder of the counter attack Company concentrated at MCLEAN POST. Battalion Headquarters was established in YELLOW LINE. The enemy did not attack during the night. Touch was kept the whole of the day with the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on our right, but there was a serious gap on the left until about 12 midnight when connection was obtained with the 15th DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY on our left in the YELLOW LINE.
On Tuesday July 17th, 1923, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 7, under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – ALLEN. – In ever loving memory of H. W. Allen and H. B. Allen, Leicester Regt., who died in France March and July 14th, 1918. Never forgotten. – By Mother and Father.
And in the same edition under the heading. – BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS. – IN MEMORIAM. – ALLEN. – In ever loving memory of H. W. Allen and H. B. Allen, Leicester Regt., who died in France March and July 14th, 1918. Never forgotten. – By Sisters and Brother, Jack and Grace.
[recognitum VII-IV-MMXXIII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Son of Harry B and Charlotte Allen, 53, Shenton St, Leicester