The Worst Affected Warwick Family Part 3
Councillor Captain Leo Thomas Howlett Royal Artillery, Mayor of Warwick and Chairman of Warwick District Council
Leo Thomas Howlett
The Man Leo Thomas (John) Howlett was born at 1 St Helen’s Terrace, Dublin South, Ireland on Wednesday 1st July 1914, son of Alfred Patrick John, a Corporal in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and Margaret nee Burke. Alfred was posted to Ireland with the Army and married Margaret, an Irish resident, in 1908, serving there for most of World War I.
John was one of six children, Eillen Margaret born in 1910, Alfred Patrick John junior (Slim) 1912, died of wounds received during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, William Henry (Harry) 1913, killed in action in Tobruk on 14th June 1942, 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, who was born in Essex.
Having left the Army Alfred and Margaret moved to Warwick, becoming the Licensees of the Warwick Tavern at 27-29 Crompton Street in 1931. In 1930, aged 16, after his education and following in his father’s footsteps, John enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private serving for five years. On leaving he became a Motor Driver and Mechanic and in the third quarter of 1937 married Kathleen Maud M Thacker in Warwick, the 1939 Register shows them living at 51 Woodhouse Street, Warwick, just around the corner from the Warwick Tavern.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, John, who was still on the reserve list, was called up, serving as an Instructor at the Royal Army Service Corps Officers’ Training School. He became an Officer Cadet and received an emergency Commission into the Regular Army, Royal Artillery as 2nd Lieutenant on 18th June 1942 with service number 235670.
John was one of six children, Eillen Margaret born in 1910, Alfred Patrick John junior (Slim) 1912, died of wounds received during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, William Henry (Harry) 1913, killed in action in Tobruk on 14th June 1942, 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, who was born in Essex.
Having left the Army Alfred and Margaret moved to Warwick, becoming the Licensees of the Warwick Tavern at 27-29 Crompton Street in 1931. In 1930, aged 16, after his education and following in his father’s footsteps, John enlisted into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Private serving for five years. On leaving he became a Motor Driver and Mechanic and in the third quarter of 1937 married Kathleen Maud M Thacker in Warwick, the 1939 Register shows them living at 51 Woodhouse Street, Warwick, just around the corner from the Warwick Tavern.
Following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, John, who was still on the reserve list, was called up, serving as an Instructor at the Royal Army Service Corps Officers’ Training School. He became an Officer Cadet and received an emergency Commission into the Regular Army, Royal Artillery as 2nd Lieutenant on 18th June 1942 with service number 235670.
Past Mayor of Warwick Borough Jewel, Past Chairman of Warwick Dsixctricty Council Jewel, 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45. Coronation Medal 1953.
Leo Thomas (John) Howlett Chairman of Warwick District Council 1979-80.
On 19th August 1942, John was a part of ‘Operation Jubilee’ - the Dieppe Raid, a disastrous Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in northern France. Over 6,050 infantry, predominantly Canadian, supported by a regiment of tanks, were put ashore from a naval force operating under protection of Royal Air Force fighters.
The Luftwaffe made a maximum effort against the landing and the RAF lost 106 aircraft against 48 German losses. The Royal Navy lost 33 landing craft and a destroyer. Aerial and naval support was insufficient to enable the ground forces to achieve their objectives. The tanks were trapped on the beach and the infantry was largely prevented from entering the town by obstacles and German fire. After less than six hours, mounting casualties forced a retreat. Within ten hours, 3,623 of the 6,086 men who landed had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. The operation was deemed a fiasco in which only one landing force temporarily achieved its objective and a small amount of military intelligence was gathered.
John was injured during the raid, but one of the lucky ones to survive and on 26th August promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant. He served the remainder of the war in the UK and at the end of the war awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Sadly, John’s brothers were not so lucky, Alfred died of wounds received during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, William was killed in action in Tobruk on 14th June 1942 and George killed in a car accident whilst serving in East Africa on 8th February 1945. These tragic deaths were reported in the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser of 23rd February 1945 as ‘Warwick Family’s Great Sacrifice’ and they were all named on the Warwick War Memorial
John was transferred into the Territorial Army and promoted to Captain on 17th April 1947 and in 1948 became Chairman of Warwick Town Football Club. He was transferred back into the Regular Army on 16th May 1949 and awarded the Coronation Medal 1953, serving from 1954 as Adjutant of the 272 light Anti-Aircraft (TA) and 594 Heavy Anti-Aircraft (TA) as part of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, as well as taking over the licence of the Warwick Tavern, following the death of his father in 1953.
John continued serving as adjutant until 1st July 1959 aged 45, when he retired from the Army and the same year in May stood for election onto the Warwick Borough Council as a Conservative candidate to contest the West Ward.
In 1964, he was still living at the Warwick Tavern, and also a licensee of the Warwick Squash Centre Club with Michael Smith, at Welton Road, Wedgenock. He became vice chairman of Mid-Warwickshire Licensed Victuallers Association the same year and on 18th June once again stood for election in Warwick West Ward in a by-election caused by the elevation of Councillors to the Aldermanic Bench, he won the seat, but sadly, the same year his remaining brother Walter Aloysius died aged 44 and John took responsibility for his burial in Warwick Cemetery.
John was re-elected in 1967 and again in 1971 when he was elevated to the Aldermanic Bench and in 1971 gave up running the Warwick Tavern and elected as Mayor of Warwick for the Municipal year of 1971-72, during which time he officially opened the newly built flats in Hill Street, Warwick and presented with a ceremonial key by the architects. He and Kathleen now lived at 43 Foxes Way, Warwick.
The Luftwaffe made a maximum effort against the landing and the RAF lost 106 aircraft against 48 German losses. The Royal Navy lost 33 landing craft and a destroyer. Aerial and naval support was insufficient to enable the ground forces to achieve their objectives. The tanks were trapped on the beach and the infantry was largely prevented from entering the town by obstacles and German fire. After less than six hours, mounting casualties forced a retreat. Within ten hours, 3,623 of the 6,086 men who landed had been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. The operation was deemed a fiasco in which only one landing force temporarily achieved its objective and a small amount of military intelligence was gathered.
John was injured during the raid, but one of the lucky ones to survive and on 26th August promoted to War Substantive Lieutenant. He served the remainder of the war in the UK and at the end of the war awarded the 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45.
Sadly, John’s brothers were not so lucky, Alfred died of wounds received during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, William was killed in action in Tobruk on 14th June 1942 and George killed in a car accident whilst serving in East Africa on 8th February 1945. These tragic deaths were reported in the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser of 23rd February 1945 as ‘Warwick Family’s Great Sacrifice’ and they were all named on the Warwick War Memorial
John was transferred into the Territorial Army and promoted to Captain on 17th April 1947 and in 1948 became Chairman of Warwick Town Football Club. He was transferred back into the Regular Army on 16th May 1949 and awarded the Coronation Medal 1953, serving from 1954 as Adjutant of the 272 light Anti-Aircraft (TA) and 594 Heavy Anti-Aircraft (TA) as part of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, as well as taking over the licence of the Warwick Tavern, following the death of his father in 1953.
John continued serving as adjutant until 1st July 1959 aged 45, when he retired from the Army and the same year in May stood for election onto the Warwick Borough Council as a Conservative candidate to contest the West Ward.
In 1964, he was still living at the Warwick Tavern, and also a licensee of the Warwick Squash Centre Club with Michael Smith, at Welton Road, Wedgenock. He became vice chairman of Mid-Warwickshire Licensed Victuallers Association the same year and on 18th June once again stood for election in Warwick West Ward in a by-election caused by the elevation of Councillors to the Aldermanic Bench, he won the seat, but sadly, the same year his remaining brother Walter Aloysius died aged 44 and John took responsibility for his burial in Warwick Cemetery.
John was re-elected in 1967 and again in 1971 when he was elevated to the Aldermanic Bench and in 1971 gave up running the Warwick Tavern and elected as Mayor of Warwick for the Municipal year of 1971-72, during which time he officially opened the newly built flats in Hill Street, Warwick and presented with a ceremonial key by the architects. He and Kathleen now lived at 43 Foxes Way, Warwick.
John Howlett 1973
Under the provisions of the local government act 1972, Warwick Borough Council became a successor Parish and known as Warwick Town Council, followed by the Creation of Warwick District Council on 1st April 1974, to which John was elected on 7th June 1973 in preparation for the new authority representing Warwick East Ward. During 1973 he became Chairman of the Warwick Festival Executive Committee and was re-elected in 1976 to the District Council, becoming chairman of the Plans Sub-Committee.
On Wednesday 16th May 1979 at a ceremony in The Town Hall, Leamington Spa, he was elected as Chairman of the Warwick District Council for the municipal year of 1979-80.
John became a Director of the Warwick Racecourse Company, a position he held until his death. He continued serving on WDC being re-elected in 1983, 1987 (the year his wife Kathleen sadly passed away) and 1991.
From 1976-1995, the Conservatives had overall control of the Warwick District Council and John became Deputy Leader of the Council, with Cllr Ken Rawnsley as its leader. He chose not to stand for re-election in 1995 and retired from politics aged 81.
In April 1996 John re-married to Pamela Florence Newman and they lived at Foxes Way, sadly passing away with cancer 18 months later, on 29th October 1997 aged 83. His funeral was held at Oakley Wood Crematorium on Friday 7th November 1997 at 12 noon.
Pamela died 26 years later on 18th October 2023 and her funeral held at Oakley Wood on 10th November.
On Wednesday 16th May 1979 at a ceremony in The Town Hall, Leamington Spa, he was elected as Chairman of the Warwick District Council for the municipal year of 1979-80.
John became a Director of the Warwick Racecourse Company, a position he held until his death. He continued serving on WDC being re-elected in 1983, 1987 (the year his wife Kathleen sadly passed away) and 1991.
From 1976-1995, the Conservatives had overall control of the Warwick District Council and John became Deputy Leader of the Council, with Cllr Ken Rawnsley as its leader. He chose not to stand for re-election in 1995 and retired from politics aged 81.
In April 1996 John re-married to Pamela Florence Newman and they lived at Foxes Way, sadly passing away with cancer 18 months later, on 29th October 1997 aged 83. His funeral was held at Oakley Wood Crematorium on Friday 7th November 1997 at 12 noon.
Pamela died 26 years later on 18th October 2023 and her funeral held at Oakley Wood on 10th November.
John Howlett's Medal Index Card, 1939-45 Star not shown.
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John's miniature medals
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John and Kathleen Howlett's Past Mayor and Mayoress of Warwick Jewels 1971-72.
Warwick Courthouse. Past Mayors Roll of Honour.
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John and Kathleen Howlett's Past Chairman and Consort Jewels Warwick District Council 1979-80
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Royal Leamington Spa Town Hall Past Chairmen of Warwick District Council Roll of Honour
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PRESENTED TO
ALDERMAN L T HOWLETT BY THE ARCHITECTS MESSRS BADGER, HARRISON & CROSS AT THE OPENING OF HILL STREET FLATS WARWICK 28TH JULY 1971 |
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Framed citation awarded to John
The Story The medals awarded to Leo Thomas (John) Howlett were acquired from E-Bay on 6th June 2024. They were of immediate interest as the recipient had been known personally some years earlier when serving as a colleague on Warwick District Council (WDC).
The vendor also lived locally and arrangements were made to collect the medals; following some discussion it was revealed that John’s Past Mayor of Warwick and past Chairman of WDC jewels were also available, together with his wife’s Mayoress and Consort’s jewels and other related documents including his Commissioning parchment. The entire lot was purchased to keep it together.
Ancestry, Wills, London Gazette and the newspaper archives enabled a detailed biography to be pieced together for John, including the fact he had four brothers, three of whom had been killed in different theatres during World War II and described in the local press as ‘The Worst Affected Warwick Family’. Their names also appeared on the Warwick War Memorial in Church Street. All four brothers had their photographs in one news article, although not great quality, they do at least show them in some detail.
The three brothers medal entitlements were acquired from the MoD Medal Office, enabling their groups and biographies to be put together to complement John’s story.
Coincidentally Warwick Town Council had been advertising their desire to dispose of their older Mayoral portraits to clear storage room, enquiries were made to find that John’s was available from 1971-72 and as no family member had claimed it permission was given for it to be added to this archive, a fantastic addition. His portrait as Chairman of WDC was also available to be downloaded.
The War Memorial, various places the brothers had lived and their graves in Warwick were visited and photographs taken to further enhance the detailed story of the Howletts.
Of interest is the fact John is wearing his medals on the mayoral portrait and the 1939-45 Star can clearly be seen and was included in his miniature group. However, MoDMO and his medal index card show no entitlement, despite it being mentioned in some of the newspaper archives that John had served in and been injured at Dieppe in 1942, thus entitling him to the award. There are numerous reasons why this may not have been shown on the available record, however, as it is how he wore his medals and the details in the newspaper stories they have been left.
Such a pity one cannot wind back the clock to talk to someone one knew so well and worked closely with over 30 years ago. John’s back story was never realised or appreciated at the time. He and his brothers will now hopefully be remembered vis another medium for posterity.
The vendor also lived locally and arrangements were made to collect the medals; following some discussion it was revealed that John’s Past Mayor of Warwick and past Chairman of WDC jewels were also available, together with his wife’s Mayoress and Consort’s jewels and other related documents including his Commissioning parchment. The entire lot was purchased to keep it together.
Ancestry, Wills, London Gazette and the newspaper archives enabled a detailed biography to be pieced together for John, including the fact he had four brothers, three of whom had been killed in different theatres during World War II and described in the local press as ‘The Worst Affected Warwick Family’. Their names also appeared on the Warwick War Memorial in Church Street. All four brothers had their photographs in one news article, although not great quality, they do at least show them in some detail.
The three brothers medal entitlements were acquired from the MoD Medal Office, enabling their groups and biographies to be put together to complement John’s story.
Coincidentally Warwick Town Council had been advertising their desire to dispose of their older Mayoral portraits to clear storage room, enquiries were made to find that John’s was available from 1971-72 and as no family member had claimed it permission was given for it to be added to this archive, a fantastic addition. His portrait as Chairman of WDC was also available to be downloaded.
The War Memorial, various places the brothers had lived and their graves in Warwick were visited and photographs taken to further enhance the detailed story of the Howletts.
Of interest is the fact John is wearing his medals on the mayoral portrait and the 1939-45 Star can clearly be seen and was included in his miniature group. However, MoDMO and his medal index card show no entitlement, despite it being mentioned in some of the newspaper archives that John had served in and been injured at Dieppe in 1942, thus entitling him to the award. There are numerous reasons why this may not have been shown on the available record, however, as it is how he wore his medals and the details in the newspaper stories they have been left.
Such a pity one cannot wind back the clock to talk to someone one knew so well and worked closely with over 30 years ago. John’s back story was never realised or appreciated at the time. He and his brothers will now hopefully be remembered vis another medium for posterity.
Warwick town Council 1980s. John Howlett second row sixth from left.
Pamela Howlett, John's second wife.
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”.
Click here to read about Leo's Brothers:
Medal Details
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronation Medal 1953: Unnamed as awarded.
- Past Mayor of Warwick Jewel: Unnamed as awarded
- Past Mayoress of Warwick Jewel: Unnamed as awarded
- Past Chairman of Warwick District Council Jewel:
- Past Chairman's of Warwick District Council Consort's Jewel:
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