John Howes

A Corporal with the 7th Battalion, John died on 19th of September 1917 at the age of 21.

John was born at Wymondham in 1896, a son of Eliza Howes. His mother married John Elvin in late 1896. In 1901 his family lived at The Lizard, Wymondham, and this was still their address in 1911.   

On 31 May 1915 John married Amelia Rudd at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, John was ‘a soldier billeted at Lowestoft’ and Amelia lived at 6 Love Road. Later Amelia lived at 4 Epsom Terrace, Kirkley Run. In 1919 she married Frederick Moxey.

John volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Norwich. He joined the Norfolk Regiment, service number 29769, and was posted to the 7th Battalion in France.

On 10 July 1917 he was serving with A Company. He developed a fever and was admitted to 31st Ambulance Train, at Agnez Duisans, with ‘pyrexia of unknown origin’. The next day, 11 July 1917, he was transferred to Rouen for treatment. Later he rejoined the 7th Battalion.

On 19 September 1917 the 7th Battalion were in front line positions at Monchy-le-Preux. The enemy bombarded their positions during the evening, and there was significant machine-gun fire as well. There was some damage to the Battalion's trenches and eight men, including John, were killed. 

John’s father-in-law, Olley Rudd, was the Mate with the trawler Chrysolite and died in July 1917.