Born: 1893, Eccleshill
Died: 10 April 1918, Messines
Buried:
Address: 87 Wellington Road, Eccleshill
Parents: John Howard & Maria, nee Pitts
Spouse: Betsy Ann, nee Sharp
Siblings: Five brothers, two sisters
Occupation: Warehouseman and packer
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill Park & St Luke’s; Tyne Cot Memorial
Children:
Regiment: 1/6 West Yorkshire
Percy Howe
Percy Howe was born in Eccleshill
in 1893, the seventh of eight
children of music teacher John
Edward Howe and Maria, nee Pitts.
By 1911 the family have moved to
20 Institute Road and John was
now a piano tuner. Percy at 17
years of age was working as a
warehouseman and packer in the
warp and yarn trade.
He enlisted on the 24th of January
1916 as Private 242172 in the 1/6th
Battalion of the Duke of
Wellington’s West Riding
Regiment.
On a home leave on the 7th of
February 1916 at St James, Bolton,
Percy married Betsy Ann Sharp
who was 24 years of age living at
63 Chestnut Grove, Bolton Woods,
and the daughter of Joseph Sharp a
warehouseman. Percy was 22
years of age, a soldier of 87
Wellington Road. He left his new
wife living with her father at
Chestnut Grove.
The 1/6th Battalion became part of
the 49th West Riding Division and
Percy took part in the Battle of
Poelcapelle in October 1917 during
the Third Battle of Ypres.
His Battalion were not involved in
any other major battle until the
Battle of Lys in April 1918 when
Percy was killed in action on the
10th of April 1918, the first day of
the Battle of Messines.
He was 25 years of age and he is
remembered on the Tyne Cot
Memorial. All the five sons of
John and Maria enlisted. Charles
(link below) and Percy lost their
lives, Edward was a prisoner of war
and in 1918 both Urban and George
were wounded.
Percy left his effects to his widow
Betsy who received £9.6.6d on the
26th July 1918 and a War Gratuity
of £9.10s on the 18th November
1919.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
