Name
Arthur Howard
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/06/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
26095
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ST. QUENTIN CABARET MILITARY CEMETERY
II. P. 15.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Barley Village Memorial,
St Margaret's Church Memorial, Barley
Pre War
Arthur Howard was born in 1887 in Barley, Hertfordshire, the son of Arthur and Sarah Elizabeth Howard, and one of nine children.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at Church End, Barley, where his father was working as a shepherd. They remained there in 1901, at which time 14 year old Arthur was working as a baker's assistant making bread, but by 1911 although still living at the same address, Arthur was then working as a farm labourer. Before the outbreak of the war Arthur was employed by Ellis Wilkerson on agricultural work.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hitchin and initially joined the Bedfordshire Regiment under reg. no. 26849, later transferring to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 9th Battalion.
Arthur was killed in action on 7 June 1917 during the Battle of Messines. The 9th Battalion took part in an attack on Messines-Wytschaete Ridge, in preparation for the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). The attack was preceded by the detonation of 19 massive mines which destroyed German strongpoints, however the battalion still faced heavy resistance and suffered numerous casualties. He is buried in St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His sister Florence, sole legatee, received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £1 7s 4d.
His mother received a pension of 3s 6d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Paul Johnson, Adrian Pitts
