William Howe

A Private with the 8th Battalion, William died on 18th of April 1917 at the age of 30. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 22 February 1887, a son of William and Louisa Etherly Howe. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 16 March 1887 and his family lived at Stanford Street. In 1893 his family lived at Burcham Square. By 1897 William’s parents had separated and his father lived at 13 Crown Street. It seems that in 1901 William was a twine spinner lodging with Robert and Charlotte Harness at Goodrum’s Buildings. William’s mother died in 1902.   

In 1911 William was a lodger, with George and Edith Brown, living at 63 Norwich Road, and he worked as a fish packer. Interestingly one of the one people living there was Gertrude Womack, the sister of Alice Susan Womack. 

On 7 July 1912 William married Alice Susan Womack at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. William was a fish packer living at 63 Norwich Road and Alice lived at 22 Commercial Road. Later they lived at 82 Bevan Street.

William enlisted in the Army at Bury St. Edmunds. He joined the Essex Regiment, service number 28272 and went to France (we do not know his battalion). William was then transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment, service number 40156, and posted to the 8th Battalion. 

On 15 April 1917 the 8th Battalion were in reserve trenches between Vermelles and Grenay. They were ordered to make an attack, with the 1/7th Buffs, and, under a heavy barrage, moved to a position south of Loos. The next day, following an artillery barrage, the battalion advanced towards Hill 70. This attack had mixed results, but the battalion held all ground gained. On the 17th the battalion again moved forward: a strong point held up the battalion, but a machine-gun and 27 prisoners captured. For the rest of the day the battalion faced a heavy bombardment but held their positions. At 5 a.m. on 18 April a further attack was made on the strong point but this failed because of the devastating fire coming from hostile machine-guns and throughout the day the men were subject to artillery bombardment. The battalion lost one officer wounded, seven men killed, and 33 wounded on 18 April. 

William was killed in action on 18 April.