Herbert Edmund Howes

Driver (Waggoner) - CHT/190 - Royal Army Service Corps

Herbert Edmund Howes, the son of William Edmund Howes and his wife Mary Ann (Larter), was born on 3rd September 1899 in Swardeston, Norfolk. He was the youngest of William and Mary's five children, Ellen (1887), Ethel (1890), Walter (1892) and George (1894). William Edmund Howes was the illegitimate son of Ann Maria Howes and was brought up by his grandparents Richard Howes and Hannah (Palmer), initially in Scott's Terrace, Mulbarton (by the turnpike) and later by the common in Swardeston. Hannah died in April 1881 and, when William married Mary Larter in 1887, Richard continued to live in the same cottage by Swardeston common with William, Mary and their growing family until his death in May 1891. William was a gardener (not domestic) by trade which meant he worked on one of the many market gardens in Swardeston for which the village was renowned.

His father William died in late 1905 when Herbert was just 6 years old and his mother Mary passed away just 18 months later leaving the five children, between the ages of 6 and 19, orphaned. Ellen was by now working as a cook for a chartered accountant in Christchurch Road, Norwich. Ethel married Sydney White, a butcher, originally from Great Yarmouth who moved to Swardeston with his parents and siblings in 1890 and continued to live in the village after his marriage to Ethel. Walter went to live with his uncle George Larter and aunt Sarah in East Carleton while Herbert and older brother George went to live with their uncle Harry Larter and aunt Charlotta in Swardeston.

Herbert joined the Royal Army Service Corps as a Driver or Waggoner, with Service No. C HT/190 almost immediately at the outbreak of war and is recorded as entering active service on 20th August 1914, just days before his 15th birthday having, presumably, lied about his age. His army records do not survive but we know he was awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, a combination often irreverently referred to as Pip, Squeak and Wilfred. The Medal Rolls for his 1914 Star also indicate that he was taken prisoner of war on 23rd February 1915 but gives no further details as to the length of his imprisonment or any other details.

Records appear to indicate that Herbert died in early 1976 at the age of 76 and we are unable to trace details of his marriage.

Return to WW1 1914-1918