Soldier Record
Frederick James Eric Howarth
Contributed by: Carol Johnston, on 2008-11-06
| Rank | |
|---|---|
| First Name | Frederick James Eric |
| Surname | Howarth |
| Year of Birth | 1896 |
| Year of Death | 1918 |
| Regiment | Essex Regiment |
| Place of Wartime Residence | West Thurrock, Essex |
Frederick James Eric's Story
My Great Uncle Frederick joined the Essex Regiment on 15th November 1915, aged 19 years. He served on the home front until 15th November 1916 when he was then posted overseas with the British Expeditionary Force, embarking at Folkestone 16th November 1916, arriving in Bolougne the same day. He was posted to the 13th(service) Battalion, The Essex Regiment at Etaples on 4th December 1916.
Prisoner of war
He was posted as missing 28th April 1917, and next of kin, (my Great Grandparents Frederick and Emily Howarth) were informed 25th May 1917. He was identified as a Prisoner of War 30th August 1917, having been captured at 'Oppy' 28th April 1917.
He was repatriated 28th February 1918, and discharged as unfit 3rd April 1918, he died 3rd May 1918.
This is an extract from his Testament following his repatriation:-
'After being captured had to walk 9 miles to Douai, having no food or drink, stayed in a room with no bed or mattresses overnight and was then taken by train to Lille, was given bread at 4am, and vegetables in water at 9am.
May 3rd - August 1917, was taken to La Bassee and put to work in the German 3rd Line, had to work from 4am to 7pm with one hour for dinner and a 20 minute walk there and back, also came under British fire as we were underneath the barrage. We only had the clothes we stood up in as our overcoats and personal possessions had been taken from us, fortunately I managed to find my pay book after they had been thrown into a yard.
By August through exposure and lack of food I was so ill I was taken to the hospital at Tournai, along with a Canadian and a man fron the West Yorkshire regiment.
There were 368 men there, mainly Russians, there were four or five doctors but I received no treatment, in October I was moved to the Sennelager Camp Hospital.'
The examiner then stopped the examination as Frederick was too ill to continue.
He was discharged as no longer being physically fit for service ad is described as having Tuberculosis of the Lung caused by his exposure while a prisoner of war.
No additional memories have been submitted