Name
Frederick John Howe (MM)
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/10/1917
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant
10/20965
Border Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 85 to 86.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Baldock Town Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Memorial, Baldock, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Frederick John Howe was born in 1894 at Thriplow, Cambridgeshire, the son of John and Sarah Howe, and baptised at Thriplow on 10 June 1894. His father's occupation was recorded as gamekeeper.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Middle Street, Thriplow, where his father was working as a gamekeeper. His parents had moved to The Close, Baldock, Herts, in 1911 but Frederick was not listed with them although he gave his address on enlistment in 1912 as St Mary's Cottages, Baldock.
At the time of his death the family's address was later recorded as 16 Margaret Street, Brighton and his father later lived at 75 Westfield Road, West Ealing, London.
Frederick attested on 26 August 1912 in Hertford and initially joined the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, under reg. no. 6695 for six years in the Army Reserve (Special Reservists). The 4th Battalion was a training battalion for the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was sent for training from 26 August to 25 October 1912 after which he was discharged to join the regular army and served with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment under reg. no. 10150.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment were at Mullingar, Ireland and embarked from Belfast on SS Oronsa to sail to Le Havre where they arrived on 16 August 1914. They were soon in action at the Battles of Mons and Le Cateau later in the month.
At some point he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment under Reg. No. 10/20965 and promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He was also awarded the Military Medal (circumstances unknown).
In December 1917 Frederick's father received news that his son had been posted as missing since October 26, but later that was recorded as the date of his death. Frederick's eldest brother was a prisoner of war in Germany at the time. Frederick has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £21 and pay owing of £10 18s 8d. Pension cards exist but do not indicate if a pension was paid.
N.B. Although a service record has been found, this largely relates to Frederick's service before the outbreak of war. Medal Index Cards give his arrival in France as 16 August 1914, which, according to war diaries is the date the 1st Bedfordshires arrived.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson, Jonty Wild
