No.66369, Private, Frank HOWE
Aged 26
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Frank Howe was born in Soham,(Newmarket Q1-1891 3B:554), baptised in Soham on 9th May 1894, son of John and Kate Sarah HOWE (née MALTON) of The Piece,
Soham. His father was a brick maker.
1891 census...Aged 2 months, he was at Hodge's Hill, Thorn Street, Soham with his father John HOWE [38] farm labourer; his mother Kate [35]; brothers Walter [14] farm labourer and Bertie [8]; sisters Eliza [11], Ville [10], Flossie [6], Louisa [5], Gennie [4], Rosa [3] and Lille [2]. All were born in Soham 1901 census...Aged 10, he was at Hasse Road, Soham with his parents; brothers Birt [18] farm labourer and Arthur [4]; sisters Rose, Lily and Emily [9]. The new siblings were born in Soham. 1911 census...Aged 20, a farm labourer, he was at Hasse Road, Soham with his parents; sister Lilian, brother Arthur and a niece, Millicent HOWE [1 month). His mother ( now recorded as born in Cowlinge) had borne 15 children but 4 had died. In 1911 he married Harriett Eliza EDEN(b.15-8-1891) (Newmarket Qtr 4/1911 3b:1264) They lived at East Fen Common, Soham with their two children, Ellen Louisa (b.27-10-1911) and Frank (b.4-11-1913). His younger brother Arthur was killed in France in 1917. see here |
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Enlisted in Newmarket.
Without his Army records it is not possible to pinpoint the day and place where he was wounded. It was probably not far from the cemetery as there seems not to have been any casualty clearing station nearby. The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War by H. C. O'NEILL, O.B.E. records :- On July 31st two Royal Fusilier battalions took an active part in the opening attack. They were engaged on a sector that from the beginning meant hard fighting and little success. The 26th Royal Fusiliers attacked at Battle Wood, but little progress was made. An hour before zero, which was at 3.50 a.m., a heavy rain began to fall and the ground was a mass of water-logged shell-holes. The men could hardly keep their foothold, and it is surprising that the battalion lost no more than 160 killed, wounded and missing. On the right of the 41st Division, of which the 26th Battalion formed part, was the 24th Division, containing the 1st and 12th Battalions. The 1st attacked at zero with the 12th Battalion 200 yards in the rear. The leading companies as usual clung closely to the barrage. A number of casualties were sustained as the men crossed the valley in which lies the sunken road towards the eastern end of Shrewsbury Wood, but the Germans did not attempt to stand until the strong point south of Jeffrey Avenue was reached. This trench runs from the north- eastern face of Clonmel Copse to the northern edge of Shrewsbury Wood. At this point the battalion were held up until Lieutenant Flack's party rushed it. Flack knocked out the machine gun with a rifle grenade, and was subsequently awarded a bar to the M.C. for this service. This part of the line was then consolidated. C Company, under Captain Leeming, reached the trench on the south-western face of Bodmin Copse, and here he was killed. The German snipers were very active, and C Company was deprived of an efficient leader. This company on the left of the advance alone maintained its direction. A very sustained fire had been kept up from Lower Star Post, in the heart of Shrewsbury Wood, and it was owing to this, apparently, that the battalion on the 1st Royal Fusiliers' right swerved, causing the Fusiliers' right company also to swerve. At 4.15 a.m. the 12th Battalion passed through the 1st in Jeffrey Avenue. They had been held up while the 1st were reducing numerous strong points, and had suffered heavy loss. ..........These casualties could not but gravely weaken the battalion. Five minutes before the 12th passed through the 1st, 2nd Lt. H. Martin with the signallers advanced, but he was killed on the way up. The advance from Jeffrey Avenue had made but little way before it was held up at a strong point on the western edge of Bodmin Copse. No. 3 Company rushed this position, and the 12th pushed through the copse to its eastern edge, but were there held by machine-gun and rifle fire. The advance had to be abandoned and a line was established enclosing the greater part of Bodmin Copse. A strong point was established in the trench about 100 yards to the north-east of the north-eastern corner of the copse....... That night a final line was established some 500 yards west of Bassevillebeek and held by the 1st Battalion, the 12th, with the 3rd Rifle Brigade and the Leinsters. On this day, the 1st Battalion sustained 277 casualties, 12 being officers, 3 of whom were killed. The 12th Battalion lost 9 officers and 170 other ranks, killed and wounded. Local press report, following on from the report of his brother Arthur's death:- ".....Sad to relate, the bereaved parents have now received news that their son, Pte. Frank Howe, has also been killed in action. The late Pte. Frank Howe, of East Fen Common, was called to the colours on March 30th last, joining the Royal Fusiliers. After about ten weeks training he was sent to France, and had only been there six weeks when he met his death., which occurred on July 31st, as a result of a shell bursting nearby. According to information to hand, he died in the Field Ambulance. The deceased soldier, who was 26 years of age, leaves a widow and two little children. One of his comrades, writing home, speaks of him in an excellent manner, and says that all his comrades regret his death.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission His Special Memorial is denoted by the words "Known to be buried in this cemetery". There are many such memorials as the exact location of individual graves was often lost in later battles. click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
