British Army Veterinary Corps
Harry Leonard ANTHONY
Captain
Died 2 May 1917 · Aged 39
Record note: Service and qualification dates require confirmation: the imported facts give France on 10 March 1914, while the biography gives 10 March 1916. The facts give July 1901 for qualification, while the biography gives 16 January 1901. These are differences within the supplied entry; original medal and registration records need to be checked.
His story
Captain Harry Leonard Anthony MRCVS was born on 1 July 1877 in Llandefaelog, Carmarthenshire, Wales, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Anthony. He graduated from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons London on 16 January 1901.
Harry Anthony served in the South African campaign of 1901 to 1902 and, after returning home, served as a Veterinary Surgeon to the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company in Wales.
At the outbreak of the Great War, Harry re-joined the army, serving with the Pembroke Yeomanry. Harry then served with the 1/1st Lancaster Mobile Section, the Army Veterinary Corps, attached to the 66th (2nd East Lancaster) Division, arriving in France on 10 March 1916.
During the war, Captain Anthony was mentioned in despatches.
By 1917, the Division was stationed around Arras and took a leading role in the Battle of Arras. On 2 May 1917, Captain Anthony was stationed at Arras when he was killed by a bomb dropped by a German aeroplane. He was 39 years old.
He was buried with full military honours at Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France.
Captain Anthony’s obituary in The Veterinary Journal stated:
He proved himself a capable and trustworthy officer, and his death robbed the Service of one of its best young men.
Captain Anthony’s death was also reported in the Veterinary Record dated 19 May 1917.
Photographs and documents
Before the war
- Nationality
- British
- Date of Birth
- 1 July 1877
- Place of Birth
- Llandefaelog, Carmarthenshire, Wales
- Veterinary College and Date of Graduation
- London - July 1901
Military service
- Last Rank
- Captain
- Regiment/Service
- British Army Veterinary Corps
- Secondary Regiment
- 1st/1st Lancaster Mobile Veterinary Section
- First Theatre of War
- France 10 March 1914
Medals and commemoration
- Name on RCVS Honour Board
- Yes
- Name In Officers who died in Great War
- Yes
- Medals and Awards
- Mentioned in Dispatches; British War Medal 1914-1918; Victory Medal
Death and burial
- Date of Death
- 2 May 1917
- Age at Death
- 39
- Place of Death
- Arras, France
- Cause of Death
- Killed by bomb dropped from German plane
- Cemetery
- Faubourg D'Amiens Cemetery Arras
- Location
- Arras, France
- Grave Reference
- IV. E. 30
- Commonwealth War Grave
- Yes - CWGC Headstone
- Emblem or Badge on Headstone
- Army Veterinary Corps Logo
Sources and further reading
- CWGC casualty and commemoration record
- Find a Grave memorial
- The Veterinary Record, 19 May 1917 — cited in the earlier biography
- War diary entry noting Captain Anthony's death — reproduced document
- Second War diary entry noting Captain Anthony's death — reproduced document
- Western Mail May 10 1917 — reproduced document
Cite this biography
Graham Hodgkins and Pete Matthews, “Harry Leonard Anthony”, Veterinary Virtual War Memorial, https://vetsremembered.org/people/harry_leonard_anthony/.
Contribute information
Can you add a letter, family photograph or document that tells us more about his life before service? Please give its source and any permission needed for display.