Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Barrs, a stone quarry drayman, born 1863 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire and his wife Isabella Barrs (nee North, married in the 4th quarter of 1888 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1859 in Syston, Leicestershire. Ivan Claude Harold was born in the 4th quarter of 1896 in Mountsorrel. In April 1911 Ivan was a schoolboy, and was residing in the family home at The Elders, Mountsorrel, together with his father, a stone quarry drayman and his mother. Ivan was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 14 Nov-16 – BUTTE DE WARLENCOURT. 6.45am. Zero hour – attack started.
8.00am. We got news from Captain GILL (wounded) commanding “D” Company on right that they got to GIRD TRENCH alright but had a lot of casualties going over – chiefly from our own barrage and also machine gun fire from the extreme right. No news of left Company (“B”) yet.
8.45am. We receive news that “C” Company are in objective but apparently have no Officers left – It looks as though the 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS on our left have not got their objective – although they are holding HOOK SAP.
10.00am. Men of “B” Company coming down wounded say that their Company got up alright – but we have as yet received no definite news.
11.00am. Note received from Captain EASTEN that part of “A” Company have got up to BUTTE TRENCH.
3.00pm. Definite news is received from 2nd Lieutenant H. ARMSTRONG (now commanding “D” Company) that he is occupying about 100 yards of GIRD TRENCH with about 150 men composed of “B,” “C” and “D” Companies and has established a strong post – no definite news of the 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS has yet been received.
4.00pm. S.O.S. signal is put up – Our artillery put up a heavy barrage – Result, however, is not known.
6.30pm. 1 Company of 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS and 2 Companies of 4th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS are sent up to make an attack and occupy parts of objective not taken this morning – This attack did not come off as these Companies were unable to get into position in time.
10.00pm. A party started to dig a communication trench from P. ALLEY to the HOOK but were bombed from the apex of HOOK so the Germans have managed to get back into their end of the HOOK – No other information.
11.00pm. Major WRIGHT and Lieutenant Colonel GIBSON (4th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS) went up to the line to organise a fresh attack – They have for this 1 Company of 7th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS and 1 Company of 4th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS on the left and 1 Company of 4th NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS and the remains of our “A” Company (now only 30 strong). Strong bombing patrols are sent out – 2 on the left of P. ALLEY and 1 on the right.
On Friday December 29th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS.” – The following casualties amongst local men are officially reported. All are Private’s except where otherwise shown. The town shown against each soldier’s name is the home of his next-of-kin. From Friday’s list:- MISSING. NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS. Barrs, 4723 C. H. (Mountsorrel).
On Wednesday February 28th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR” - “LOCAL MEN IN THE CASUALTY LISTS” – The Military Authorities have intimated to Mr and Mrs Barrs, of Loughborough Road, Mountsorrel, that their son, Private Claude H. Barrs, is posted as missing. Private Barrs, prior to his joining up with the Northumberland Fusiliers, was employed by the Mountsorrel Co-operative Society Ltd.