Name
George How
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/09/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27567
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
OOSTTAVERNE WOOD CEMETERY
II. D. 5.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Resport
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial, St John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
George How was born in 1891 in Trowley Botham (Bottom), Flamstead to Herman How. farm labourer, and Mary Elizabeth (nee Adams, straw hat sewer).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents and George were living in Flamstead.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, George, Florence Mabel (born 1894) and Ethel (born 1900) were living at Trowley Botham, Flamstead.
On the 1911 Census George, a coal carter, was living with his parents, Florence Mabel (straw hat finisher) and Ethel at 56, High Street, Markyate.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for George who enlisted at Bedford joining the Bedfordshire regiment as Private 27657 some time in 1916.
He went to France joining the 2nd Battalion in the field. In 1917 the Division took part in the Arras Offensive (1st Battle of Scarpe 9 -14 Apr and 2nd Battle of the Scarpe 23 -24 Apr), before moving to the Ypres Sector to take part in the Battle of Pilkem Ridge (31 Jul – 9 Aug 1917) a part of the Battle of Passchendaele (3rd Ypres). George was killed in action on 5 Sep 1917 during a period of no major engagements. His National Roll entry states he served in the Anti-Aircraft Section.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £6 and arrears of £1 15 s 7d was paid to his father,
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Anne & Gordon Mead
