Name
Lewis William Howard (MM)
Circa 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/03/1918
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
G/25982
Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
10th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Military Medal
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Willian memorial
Pre War
Lewis William Howard (sometimes Lewis Willie) was born around 1882 in Willian, Herts(*1). and registered in Hitchin. His parents were John and Emma Howard (née Rook), and they married on 21 August 1873 in Biggleswade, Beds.
Note: there was some confusion because the couple had a child (son) ‘Lewis’ (*2) born around 1874 and then a child ‘Willie’ (in the census) born around 1882 -both born in Willian. The former has not been found after the 1881 census including a search of death records.
In 1881 the family were living at 17 Roxley Cottages, Willian, Herts. Present were both parents: John (30) and Emma (31), with John working as an agricultural carter. Their children were: Florry (Florence Elizabeth, 8), Lewis (not Lewis William, 7), Emily (3), Edwin (Edwin John, 2). All children were recorded as born in Willian.
In 1891 the family were living at 6 Ley Street, Ilford, Essex. Present were both parents, John now a general labourer. Their children were: John (believed previously Edwin John, 11), Willie (Lewis William, 9) and Maud (6).
Lewis had enlisted before 1899 and served in the Boer War in South Africa in the 1st Grenadier Guards, and in the 1901 census he was in Victoria Barracks Windsor aged 19. His family were living at 8 Park Cottages, Ley Street, Ilford, Essex. Present were both parents, with John ‘living on own means’. The only child now present was E J Howard (20).
Lewis married Nellie Maria Hitchcock (b 20/5/76) in London in 1902.
In 1906, when Lois was born, their address was 44 Codimane Street(?), Hampstead and Lewis was working as a chemist’s porter. Two more children were born: Bertie Reginald on 29 April 1908, then Douglas John on 11 May 1909 who was baptised on 16 June 1909, and then they were living 102 Hall Place, Paddington Green, London , with Lewis working as a porter.
Records suggest that Lewis’s father John died in 1910.
By 1911 the family were living at 69 Portnall Rd, Harrow Road, Paddington. Present were both parents Lewis (30) and Mellie (39), Lewis now working as a shop porter for a ladies’ tailor. The census recorded they had been married for 9 years with 5 children, of whom 1 had died. The children present were recorded William Arthur Hitchcock (8), Lois Nellie Hitchcock (5), Bertie Reginald Hitchcock (2) and Douglas John Hitchcock (1).
It is not clear why all four children appear to have the surname Hitchcock (Nellie’s maiden name) as all were born after the marriage. For the last three birth registrations, correctly naming their parents, have been found with the registered surname ‘Howard’; for the former, potential birth registrations have been for both surnames, however neither positively identifies the parents.
In the 1911 census, Lewis’ mother Emma was a widow living 83 Ley Street, Ilford, Essex with her son and Lewis’ brother, Edwin, his wife and their three children.
Then a fourth child, Mary Emily Maud was born to Lewis and Nellie on 12 October 1912.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Hitchin and was living in Kilburn, Middx. when he enlisted in Cricklewood, London NW. However, Hitchin should more accurately read Willian, Herts., Hitchin probably given or recorded as the nearest main town.
Wartime Service
Although he had been a soldier, it us unlikely that he was still in the Army Reserve, so it is not known whether he re-enlisted or was called up.
SDITGW records that he was ‘formerly 23059, East Surrey Regiment. By the absence of any disembarkation date his medal cards confirm that he did not enter overseas service before 1916. Other records confirm that he served in the 11th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment and was killed with the 10th.
Lewis was a Lance Corporal in the 11th Battalion when he suffered shrapnel wounds arm and right side and was in No. 3 Convalescence Depot at Let Treport on 14 June 1917. We also know that he was awarded the Military Medal which was Gazetted on 16 August 1917 – the two events may have been connected.
At some point he was transferred to the 10th Battalion, perhaps after he had recovered and returned to duty.
He was recorded as missing on 23 March 1918 in France. This was the time of the great German Spring Offensive that very nearly broke the British lines and events were chaotic. The 10th Battalion, and Lewis, were in position near Fremicourt and Morchies and their war diary records their fighting strength on the 22nd as 18 Officers and 580 Other Ranks.
In the 23rd a mass of Germans, estimated at 700, attached and by the end of the 23rd 12 officers were missing, 1 wounded and missing and 2 wounded, and in the Ors 14 were killed, 31 wounded, 15 wounded and missing, and 391 were missing – Lewis was one of the latter two groups.
No news was received about Lewis despite the family making enquiries of the British Red Cross & Order of St John Enquiry List, on the Wounded & Missing on the 2 August 1918 and 20 November 1918. Sometime after that Lewis was officially recognised as dying on or since the 23 March 1918. His body has never been found, or was not identified and he is commemorated in on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
After his death £24 13s 2d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow, Nellie, on 15 March 1919. A war gratuity of £13 was included in that figure.
His pension cards record Nellie Maria as his widow and as his dependant, living at 8 Leinster Villa, Leinster Road, West Kilburn – later amended to 8 Leinster Road, Kilburn. London. It also records their children as Lois Nellie (b 18/1/1906), Bertie Reginald (b 29/4/1908), Douglas John (b 11/5/1909) and Mary Emily Maud (b 12/10/1912). She was awarded a pension of 36s 3d a week from 12 December 1918 for her and their children.
*1 Various census records give different birth locations for Lewis; William, Herts. (1891), London, Middlesex (1901), however this lists hundreds of soldiers and in the entry above his, the birth location was Hereford, Herts corrected to Hitchin and one wonders if it was Lewis’ entry that was in error. Then as Hitchin (1911). His birth was registered in Hitchin and in the 1891 census, Lewis, his father and brother (John) were all recorded as born in Willian. We therefore believe his connection to be with William and not Hitchin.
*2 Although it seems unlikely, and this adds to the confusion over Lewis William’s sibling (Lewis), a Lois Howard of the right age and born in Willian was found in 1901 and 1911 working as a cook domestic servant in Ilford, Essex then Highgate, London.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
