Name
William Charles Howard
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/09/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
1519
Rifle Brigade
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford, Bourne End Village Memorial, St John's Church Roll of Honour (book), Bourne End, Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials, Not on the Berkhamsted memorials
Pre War
William Charles Howard was born 1888 in Berkhamsted, the son of Henry and Rose Howard, and baptised on 26 February 1888 at St Peter’s, Berkhamsted, where his parents had married on 19 May 1879.
On the 1891 Census, the family were living in Red Lion Yard, Berkhamsted, and his father was working as a labourer. They had moved to Bourne End Lane. Northchurch, Herts on the 1901 Census, but his two elder brothers Henry and Ernest had moved out of the family home. Only 13 year old William was still at home with his parents.
By the 1911 Census, William was a Rifleman in the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade aged 23, and was stationed in Calcutta, India. He originally attested on 1 February 1906 in Berkhamsted, Herts, for Short Service (3 years with the Colours, 9 years in the Reserves): a farm labourer aged 18, 5’4″ tall, C of E, of Bourne End, Herts.
He was appointed to the 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment on 13 March 1905, and joined the Rifle Brigade on 1 February 1906. He served at Home from 1 February to 7 October 1906; in Malta from 8 October 1906; and in India from 27 February 1908 until 22 October 1914.
His parents later lived at the Black Horse Inn, Berkhamsted, Herts
His mother died in 1922 in Berkhamsted aged 67, and was buried on 1 March at St Peter’s, Berkhamsted. His father Henry died in 1935 in Berkhamsted aged 79, and was buried on 30 January, also at St Peter’s.
Wartime Service
William was a serving soldier in India when war was declared and returned home on 23 October. The battalion were then sent to the Western Front and he served in France from 5 November 1914 with the B.E.F. to 20 January 1915. He was home 21 January to 31 May 1915; B.E.F. 1 June 1915 to 10 February 1916; Home, again, 11 February to 7 June 1916, spending some time at University College Hospital, London, with a shell wound to the thigh; and finally B.E.F. again from 8 June 1916.
He was killed in action on 1 September 1918. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.
Additional Information
His mother Rose received a war gratuity of £18 10s and pay owing of £22 1s 7d.
There is an article about William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 October 1918. William is possibly the W C HOWARD commemorated at Christ Church
Pension cards exist which suggest a pension was granted, but the amount is unclear.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), www.dacorumheritage.org.uk
