HOWARD, James Mann
(Service number 52610)
| First Rank | Private | Last Rank | Rifleman |
|---|
Birth
| Date | 18/12/1887 | Place of Birth |
|---|
Enlistment Information
| Date | 28 March 1917 | Age | 29 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address at Enlistment | 31 Evans Street, Maori Hill, Timaru | ||
| Occupation | Coach painter | ||
| Previous Military Experience | |||
| Marital Status | Married | ||
| Next of Kin | Mrs Ina Myrtle Howard (Wife), 31 Evans Street, Maori Hill, Timaru | ||
Military Service
| Served with | NZ Armed Forces | Served in | Army |
|---|
Embarkation Information
| Body on Embarkation | New Zealand Expeditionary Force | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit, Squadron, or Ship | 28th Reinforcements Wellington Infantry Regiment, B Company | ||
| Date | 14 July 1917 | ||
| Transport | Waitemata | ||
| Embarked From | Wellington, New Zealand | Destination | Plymouth, England |
| Other Units Served With | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Unit Served With | NZ Rifle Brigade | ||
Military Awards
| Campaigns | Western European | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Medals | British War Medal, Victory Medal | ||
Award Circumstances and Date
No information
Prisoner of War Information
| Date of Capture | |
|---|---|
| Where Captured and by Whom | |
| Actions Prior to Capture | |
| PoW Serial Number | |
| PoW Camps | |
| Days Interned | |
| Liberation Date |
Death
| Date | 21 April 1918 | Age | 30 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Death | Somme, France | ||
| Cause | Killed in action | ||
| Memorial or Cemetery | Englebelmer Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France | ||
| New Zealand Memorials | |||
Biographical Notes
South Canterbury. James Mann Collett Howard was born on 18 December 1887, the son of Henry Rogers Howard and Elizabeth Hannah Howard, of 50 Lindsay Street, Christchurch. James married Ina Myrtle Pierce on 2 November 1915 in Geraldine. At the time of his enlistment on 28 March 1917, James described himself as being married self employed coach painter of Geraldine. His medical exam described him as being Anglican, 5 feet 3 ½ inches tall, 125lb, with a chest measurement of 31 inches. He was of medium complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. After his initial training he was posted to B Company, 28th Reinforcements 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Battalion. Private Howard (serial no. 52610) left Wellington on the 14 July 1917 on board HMNZT 89 Waitemata. They landed at Plymouth, England on the 24 September 1917, before marching into Sling Camp for a month’s training. After being attached to a unit in Irdworth, he left for France on 11 January 1918 arriving at Etaples on 13 January 1918. He was attached to another unit at Abule for a time before joining the Battalion. There he was posted to D Company on 5 April 1918 which was on the front line. James was killed in action while fighting in France on 21 April 1918. James was originally buried at Beausand Community Cemetery before being exhumed and reinterred at Englebelner Communal Cemetery at Somme, Picardie, France. James’ brother John was also killed during the war.
Sources
Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database (March 2014); New Zealand War Graves Project http://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/james-mann-howard; NZ Defence Force Personnel Record at Archives NZ; Timaru District Council Cemetery records at http://www.timaru.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/cemeteries/
External Links
Related Documents
No documents available.
Researched and Written by
Carol Bell, SC branch NZSG & Timaru Herald; Dianne Hall
Currently Assigned to
Not assigned.
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