The Worst Affected Warwick Family Part 1
Serjeant Alfred Patrick John Howlett Essex Regiment
Alfred Patrick John Howlett
The Man Alfred Patrick Hohn Howlett (Slim) was born in Romford in the second quarter of 1911, son of Alfred Patrick John, a Corporal in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and Margaret nee Burke. Alfred had been posted to Ireland with the Army and married Margaret, an Irish resident, in 1908, subsequently serving there for most of World War I.
Slim was one of six children, Eillen Margaret born in 1910, William Henry 1913, killed in action in Tobruk on 14th June 1942, Leo Thomas (John) 1st July 1914, George William (Bill) 1916, killed in a car accident whilst serving in East Africa on 8th February 1945 and Walter Aloysius 20th June 1920, all were born in Dublin South, except Slim.
Having left the Army Alfred senior and Margaret moved to Warwick, becoming the Licensees of the Warwick Tavern 27-29 Crompton Street in 1931.
In 1928 aged 16 and after his education, Slim enlisted into the regular army serving in the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment with service number 6007870 as Drum Major. He was promoted to Corporal and in 1937 awarded the Coronation Medal 1937.
Slim saw service in India with the Battalion returning to the UK in 1936. During the third quarter of 1939 in Brentwood, Essex he married Eileen Rose Bradley and they had no children.
Slim was one of six children, Eillen Margaret born in 1910, William Henry 1913, killed in action in Tobruk on 14th June 1942, Leo Thomas (John) 1st July 1914, George William (Bill) 1916, killed in a car accident whilst serving in East Africa on 8th February 1945 and Walter Aloysius 20th June 1920, all were born in Dublin South, except Slim.
Having left the Army Alfred senior and Margaret moved to Warwick, becoming the Licensees of the Warwick Tavern 27-29 Crompton Street in 1931.
In 1928 aged 16 and after his education, Slim enlisted into the regular army serving in the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment with service number 6007870 as Drum Major. He was promoted to Corporal and in 1937 awarded the Coronation Medal 1937.
Slim saw service in India with the Battalion returning to the UK in 1936. During the third quarter of 1939 in Brentwood, Essex he married Eileen Rose Bradley and they had no children.
1939-45 Star. War Medal 1939-45. Coronation Medal 1937.
Slim was promoted to Sergeant and following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, was sent to France in 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force with the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment, which was originally part of the 25th Infantry Brigade (containing the 1/7th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) and 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers) attached to the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. During the fierce fighting and the retreat to Dunkirk, Slim was badly injured and together with battalion survivors evacuated from Dunkirk in May 1940. Upon his return to the UK Slim was sent to Warwick Hospital for his wounds to be treated, but sadly succumbed to them and died on 16th May 1940 aged just 28.
On Monday 20th May, following a Roman Catholic Church Ceremony at 0930h, Slim was buried in Warwick Cemetery by the Reverend Father Hughes in plot 81-25, next to where his parents would later lie.
He was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star and War Medal 1939-45 and his name added to the Warwick War Memorial in Church Street, together with Bill and Harry.
Eileen remarried in 1947 to Dennis Parsons and again in 1964 to Claude Stanley Bell, she died in 1996 at Kidderminster.
On Monday 20th May, following a Roman Catholic Church Ceremony at 0930h, Slim was buried in Warwick Cemetery by the Reverend Father Hughes in plot 81-25, next to where his parents would later lie.
He was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star and War Medal 1939-45 and his name added to the Warwick War Memorial in Church Street, together with Bill and Harry.
Eileen remarried in 1947 to Dennis Parsons and again in 1964 to Claude Stanley Bell, she died in 1996 at Kidderminster.
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Warwick War Memorial showing Alfred and his brothers.
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Warwick Cemetery. Slim's grave and memorial to his brothers.
Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser 23rd February 1945.
The Story CLICK on Leo Thomas Howlett to see the story
Click here to read about Alfred's Brothers:
The Worst Affected Warwick Family
Alfred and Margaret Howlett kept the Warwick Tavern, now The Old Fourpenny Shop, 27-29 Compton Street.
They had four sons serving in WW2; three of them did not survive. Alf ‘Slim’ Howlett was wounded in May 1940 during the British Expeditionary Force retreat towards Dunkirk and died of his injuries in Warwick Hospital. He is buried in Warwick Cemetery.
William Henry Howlett, known as Harry, was killed in action at Tobruk in 1942, and George William Howlett, known as Bill, died in a road accident in February 1945 while he was serving in East Africa.
The Warwick Advertiser reported that:
“The sympathy of the whole town has been deeply stirred by the tragic fate that has befallen the Howlett family”.
Alfred and Margaret Howlett kept the Warwick Tavern, now The Old Fourpenny Shop, 27-29 Compton Street.
They had four sons serving in WW2; three of them did not survive. Alf ‘Slim’ Howlett was wounded in May 1940 during the British Expeditionary Force retreat towards Dunkirk and died of his injuries in Warwick Hospital. He is buried in Warwick Cemetery.
William Henry Howlett, known as Harry, was killed in action at Tobruk in 1942, and George William Howlett, known as Bill, died in a road accident in February 1945 while he was serving in East Africa.
The Warwick Advertiser reported that:
“The sympathy of the whole town has been deeply stirred by the tragic fate that has befallen the Howlett family”.
Medal Details:
- 1939-34 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronqtion Medal 1937: Unnamed as awarded.
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This page last updated 5 Dec 26
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