Pte 25791 Harold Howard

• Age: 18
• From: Wavertree, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

25791 Private Harold HOWARD, 18^th KLR.

Harold Howard was born at 19 Cambridge Street, Wavertree, Liverpool in late 1897 and was baptised in Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree on 02nd January 1898. He was the son of Thomas Howard and his wife Susannah (nee Aspinall) who were married on the 28th May 1883 at Christ Church, Eccleston. Thomas was a labourer from Eccleston, father Thomas, Susannah was also from Eccleston, father was Richard. 

The 1901 Census finds Harold, aged 3, living with his parents and 7 siblings at 10 Picton Road, Wavertree, Liverpool. His father is 43 years of age and described as a cart owner and coal merchant born in Scarisbrick, whilst his mother is 46 years of age and was born in Liverpool. His siblings, all born in Liverpool are listed as: Gertrude aged 17 and a draper's assistant, Joseph aged 15 and a clerk for a coal merchant, presumably his father, Annie aged 13, Willie aged 10, Agnes aged 9, Mary aged 5, Ethel aged 4 and Alice aged 1. THere is also a servant recorded as Emma Hardman aged 17. 

By 1911 the family have moved to 3 Alfred Street, Wavertree, Harold is now 13 years of age and he is a schoolboy. He lives with both parents and seven siblings. His father, Thomas, is aged 53, a coal merchant, his mother is aged 55 and they have been married for 27 years and that nine of their eleven children have survived. Those children living at the property in addition to Harold are recorded as Joseph, 25 and a coal merchant employed by his father, Annie 23 a typist in a shipping office, Willie aged 20 a grocer's assistant, Agnes aged 19, May aged 15 and a dressmaker's apprentice, Ethel 14 a draper's apprentice and Gladys aged 11.    

Hois brother, Willie, died aged 23 on the 14th June 1914. 

Harold enlisted in Liverpool on 25th January 1915 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 25791.

He was billeted at the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He crossed to France on an unknown date after 31st December 1915.

He was killed in action during the attack on Montauban on 01^st July 1916.

18^th Battalion Diary

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on the 26th July 1916: 

KILLED IN ACTION. 

HOWARD - July 1, killed in action, aged 18 years, Private Harold Howard (“Pals”), youngest and much beloved son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Howard, 3 Alfred Street, Wavertree. “Not my will but Thy will be done, O Lord.” 

Harold has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Soldiers Effects to father Thomas, Pension to mother Susannah. 

An In Memorium notice for his brother was placed in the Liverpool Echo on the 14th June 1916: 

IN MEMORIAM. 

HOWARD - In loving memory of Willie, second son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Howard, who died June 14, 1914 at 3 Alfred Street, Wavertree. Fondly remembered by Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers. 

Harold was remembered by his family in the Liverpool Echo on the 02nd July 1918: 

HOWARD - In ever loving memory of Harold, 18th K.L.R., beloved youngest son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Howard, killed in action, July 1, 1916. - Too dearly beloved ever to be forgotten by Father, Mother, Sisters and Brother, 3 Alfred Street, Wavertree. 

Harold is commemorated on the family headstone at Holy Trinity Churchyard which details many family members and reads as follows:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

THOMAS HOWARD 
DIED 14TH JANUARY 1929, AGED 70

SUSANNAH HIS BELOVED WIFE 
DIED 21ST MARCH 1937, AGED 82

THEIR SONS WILLIE
DIED 14TH JUNE 1914, AGED 23

HAROLD (PTE 18TH K.L.R.)
KILLED IN FRANCE 1ST JULY 1916
AGED 18 YEARS

ALSO THEIR DAUGHTER AGNES 
DIED 10TH JULY 1968 AGED 76 YEARS

ALSO ETHEL
DIED 28TH APRIL 1980 AGED 83 YEARS

ALSO ALICE GLADYS 
DIED 06TH DECEMBER 1985 AGED 86 YEARS  

Harold is also remembered on the following war memorials:

Cambridge Street Mission, Edge Hill which is now preserved in the store on the premises

St Mary the Virgin, West Derby

West Derby Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Harold Howard, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.