Pte 27167 John Howarth

• Age: 21
• From: Dukinfield
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 19th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Roisel Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: I.C.4

John Howarth was born in the fourth quarter of 1897 in Dukinfield and was the son of Mrs. S. J. Howarth (nee Neville) of 181 Old St, Ashton-under-Lyne. 

He was originally serving with the 14th Battalion but had transferred to the 18^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 27167 when he died of wounds on the 19th October 1918, aged 21 during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

He now lies in Roisel CC, France. The Inscription on his headstone reads:

“TREASURED MEMORIES”

Roisel town was occupied by British troops in April 1917, and evacuated after a strong defence by the 66th (East Lancashire) Division in the evening of the 22nd March 1918. It was retaken in the following September.

Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension was begun by German troops, who buried immediately to the North of the Communal Cemetery. It was developed in October and November 1918, by the 41st, 48th, 53rd and 58th Casualty Clearing Stations, and it was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of British and German graves from the country North, East and South of Roisel.

There are now 878, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, 120 are unidentified and special memorials are erected to 12 soldiers from the United Kingdom and one from Australia who are known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of two soldiers from the United Kingdom, buried in other cemeteries, whose graves could not be found on concentration. The graves of 88 soldiers of the United States Army buried here in October 1918, have been removed to another cemetery. There are also 514, German Foreign Nationals commemorated in this site, 190 being unidentified.

The cemetery covers an area of 6,010 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall on three sides.

He is also commemorated on the Waterloo and Taunton Memorial, Ashton under Lyme. 

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