Howard, W C
WILLIAM CHARLES HOWARD
Remembered with honour Vis-en-Artois Memorial: Panel 10.
He originally attested 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 13 March 1905, and joined the Rifle Brigade 1 February 1906. He served at Home 1 February to 7 October 1906; in Malta 8 October 1906 to 26 February 1908; in India 27 February 1908 to 22 October 1914; Home from 23 October to 4 November 1914; with the B.E.F. 5 November 1914 to 20 January 1915; 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 entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 7 November 1914, and was killed in action.
There is an article about William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 October 1918.
Son of Henry and Rose (nee FINCH) HOWARD.
His parents married 19 May 1879 at St Peter’s Berkhamsted. Rose died 1922 in Berkhamsted aged 67, and was buried 1 March at St Peter’s, Berkhamsted; Henry died 1935 in Berkhamsted aged 79, and was buried 30 January, also at St Paul’s.
William was born 1888 in Berkhamsted, and baptised 26 February 1888 at St Peter’s, Berkhamsted. He resided in Berkhamsted.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 3 he lived in Berkhamsted, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 13 he still lived in Berkhamsted, with his parents and no siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Rifleman in the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade aged 23, he was stationed in Calcutta, India.
Service number
1519Rank
Lance-CorporalUnit
1st BattalionRegiment
Date of death
01/09/1918Age at death
30Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
William is possibly the W C HOWARD commemorated at Christ Church- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)