ARTHUR WILLIAM HOWGEGO

IPSWICH WAR MEMORIAL | Posted on 13th March 2016 |

Image from the Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – 1916.

Photograph courtesy of Floyd.

Born: 8th July 1892, Ipswich.

Baptised: 7^th October 1894, at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich, with his sister, May Gertrude Howegego, born 4^th September 1894 – family home at Tomline Road, Ipswich.

Died: 5th August 1916; age 24; KiA – while on telephone duty near Zillebeke. He was instantly killed by the explosion of an enemy shell on the dug-out during a heavy bombardment by both sides during the evening.

Evening Star – Thursday, 14^th September 1916 – AN IPSWICH-CANADIAN’S DEATH – Mrs. Laura Howgego, of 79, Hervey Street, Ipswich, has received the following letter from an officer of the 14^th Canadian Battalion, relative to the death of her son, who was attached to the Royal Montreal Regiment: –

“Your son, Signaller Arthur Howgego, was instantly killed by a German shell, which made a direct hit on the dug-out in which he was on telephone duty, during a heavy bombardment by both sides on the evening of August 5^th.

“The officers and his comrades, who have been with your son since he joined this Battalion, have only the highest praise and regard for him, and we all feel we have lost a true comrade. The fine, soldierly qualities, bravery, and keen coolness displayed by your son earned for him the admiration of all.

“He was buried in the 3^rd Brigade Cemetery, Railway Dug-outs, Ypres Salient, a service held by a Protestant Chaplain, and a cross erected.

“In the years to come, when your sorrow will, I trust, be somewhat healed, may the fact that your son died bravely, fighting for his country, prove a slight solation.”

Residence: 403, Main Street, Woodstock, County of Oxford, Ontario, Canada. Arthur had resided in Canada for 6 years.

Occupation: Farm Labourer.

Enlistment Details: 14th August 1915, Woodstock, Ontario; Arthur recorded that his year of birth was 1890 and therefore he was 25 years old; Religion: CofE. Height: 5ft 11ins, medium complexion, blue/grey eyes and brown hair. Tattoo of an Australian girl on the right forearm.

Previously spent 2 years with the 1st East Anglian Field Ambulance.

Rank: Private/Signaller; Service Number: 602927

Regiment: Canadian Infantry, 14th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles – attached to the Royal Montreal Regiment.

Also killed in the dug-out with Arthur was Ralph Travis Faylor, a Private, 464069, aged 22 years old. Ralph Travis Faylor, alias Bernard Ace, was the son of George W. Ace and Clara Louise Ace (nee Miller), of Albany, Linn County, Oregon, U.S.A., and husband of Gertrude Maude Ace (nee Sprowell), of 710, Vermont Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S.A.

Grave Reference:

E. 32.

Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm),

Leper,

West-Vlaanderen,

Belgium.

Relatives Notified and Address: Eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Howgego, of 79, Hervey Street, Ipswich, England; husband of Ada May Howgego, of 403, Main Street, Woodstock, Ontario.

CENSUS

1901 79, Hervey Street, Ipswich.

Arthur was 8 years old and living with his parents & siblings

Harry Arthur Howgego, 33, a Printer and Compositor, born Ipswich.

Laura Elizabeth Howgego (nee Mortimer), 31, born Debenham, Suffolk.

May G. Howgego, 6, born Ipswich.

Reginald Mortimer Howgego, 4, born Ipswich.

Claude Victor Howgego, 2, born Ipswich.

Arthur was educated at St. Margaret’s School, Bolton Lane, Ipswich.

On the 23rd December 1911, at New St. Paul’s Church, Woodstock, County of Oxford, Ontario, 21 year old Arthur William Howgego, a farmer, married 22 year old Ada May Harris, born May 1889, Waterloo, Ontario – daughter of John Charles Harris, a farmer and Sarah Ann Harris (nee Hancock), of Ontario. Arthur and Ada, both of East Zorra, County of Oxford.

Ada and Arthur had four children:

Harry Albert Howgego, born June 1912, Woodstock, County of Oxford, Ontario.

Kathleen Rose Howgego, born October 1913, Woodstock, County of Oxford.

James Clarence Howgego, born December 1914, Woodstock, County of Oxford.

Annie Clara Howgego, born January 1916, Woodstock, County of Oxford.

Arthur became a father to Ada’s son James William Harris, born 17^th July 1910, East Zorra, County of Oxford.

Evening Star – 4th October 1909 –

IPSWICH KIOSK ROBBED – BOYS BROUGHT TO BOOK

“DISTRIBUTED ‘EM WHOLESALE.”

At the Ipswich Police Court, on Monday, 9th October, Thomas Garrett (17), of St. Margaret’s Street; Arthur Howgego (17), of Hervey Street; Bernard Death (13), of Borough Road; Thomas Smith (13), of St. Clement’s Church Lane and William Daniels (11), of Hayhill Road, were before Mr. J.H. Grimwade (chairman), and other Magistrates, jointly charged with having stolen a quantity of chocolate and sweets value 13s. from the kiosk in Christchurch Park. The defendants, all better dressed and more respectable-looking than most juvenile offenders seen in the Police Court, had either a father or mother there to look after their interests.

It appeared from the evidence that the kiosk was hired by Mr. Henry Ernest Wheeler (of 112, Cemetery Road), baker and confectioner, and that on Saturday afternoon, 25^th September, the kiosk was broken into and a quantity of chocolate and other sweets stolen.

Detective-constable Wood said he received information on Saturday afternoon that the kiosk had been broken into, and, on looking around the place, he found that an entry had been made by breaking a small pane of glass in the side door and unlocking it from the inside. The middle door from the kitchen into the shop was opened in a similar manner, and a quantity of chocolates and other sweets had been stolen. As a result of making inquiries, he saw all the lads in turn on the following Monday. Detective-constable Wood said that one of the boys, who got some of the spoil, went into the park and threw the sweets about, and so “distributed ‘em wholesale.”

The older boys made long speeches to the Bench, on their own behalf, while Mr. Daniels warmly defended his son, declaring that all he did on the occasion in question was the result of an accident – that was to say, he broke one of the kiosk windows with a stone thrown at the adjoining beech tree – and that he had nothing to do with the actual robbery. Mrs. Daniels ( who was affected to tears) said that her boy had excellent school reports, and she was sure he wouldn’t steal.

Eventually, the Magistrates retired, and on their return to Court, the Chairman said: “Now, you boys, I need hardly say how very sorry the Bench is to see you here. All five of you are respectable boys, yet you are all brought here on the charge of stealing, and I expect you feel very much ashamed of yourselves. The Magistrates are going to deal very leniently with you, hoping that you have learned a lesson. We shall bind over the two older lads, Arthur Howgego and Thomas Garrett, on their own surety to be of good behaviour for twelve months; each will have to pay 5s. costs; and, as to the three younger boys, we shall require the parents to be bound over for their good behaviour and pay 2s. 6d. costs towards repairing the damage that has been done.

Thomas Garrett also died during WW1.

Evening Star – Thursday, 14^th September 1916 –

AN IPSWICH-CANADIAN’S DEATH

– Mrs. Laura Howgego, of 79, Hervery Street, Ipswich, has received the following letter from an officer of the 14^th Canadian Battalion, relative to the death of her son, who was attached to the Royal Montreal Regiment: –

The officers and his comrades, who have been with your son since he joined this Battalion, have only the highest praise and regard for him, and we all feel we have lost a true comrade. The fine, soldierly qualities, bravery, and keen coolness displayed by your son earned him the admiration of all.

He was buried in the 3^rd Brigade Cemetery, Railway Dug-outs, Ypres Salient, a service was held by a Protestant Chaplain, and a cross was erected. In the years to come, when your sorrow will, I trust, be somewhat healed, may the fact that your son died bravely, fighting for his country, prove a slight consolation.”

Arthur is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich, and St. Michael’s Church, Ipswich.