The Worst Affected Warwick Family Part 4
Private William Henry Howlett Worcestershire Regiment
William Henry Howlett
The Man William Henry Howlett (Harry) was born during the third quarter of 1913 at 1 New Road, Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland, 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.
Harry was one of six children, Eillen Margaret born in 1910, Alfred Patrick John junior (Slim) 1911, who died of wounds received during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, George William (Bill) 1916, killed in a car accident whilst serving in East Africa on 8th February 1945, Leo Thomas (John) 1st July 1914 and Walter Aloysius 20th June 1920, all were born in Dublin, except Slim.
Having left the Army Alfred senior and Margaret moved to Warwick, becoming the Licensees of the Warwick Tavern on Crompton Street in 1931.
Following his education Harry became a Hydraulic Brake Packer and during the second quarter of 1936 married Phylis Ethel Young in Warwick. They had one daughter Pauline Ann born the same year, but who tragically died aged just 17 months old, she was buried in Warwick Cemetery on 21st February 1938.
The 1939 Register shows Harry and Phylis living at 20 Queen’s Square, Warwick and he had now also joined the Auxiliary Fire Service. Following the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Harry was called up, serving in the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment as a Private with service number 5256196. The 1st Battalion served extensively during World War II, participating in campaigns across multiple theatres. Initially deployed to Palestine, they later fought in Sudan, Eritrea, Abyssinia, and the Western Desert, including notable actions in Tobruk.
It was whilst fighting in Tobruk that Harry was killed on 14th June 1942, subsequently buried in the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery at Tobruk, AL Buṭnān, Libya. His name was also added to the Warwick War Memorial alongside his brothers Slim and Bill.
Harry was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star and War Medal 193-45s. Phylis never remarried and died 1995 aged 85
Harry was one of six children, Eillen Margaret born in 1910, Alfred Patrick John junior (Slim) 1911, who died of wounds received during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, George William (Bill) 1916, killed in a car accident whilst serving in East Africa on 8th February 1945, Leo Thomas (John) 1st July 1914 and Walter Aloysius 20th June 1920, all were born in Dublin, except Slim.
Having left the Army Alfred senior and Margaret moved to Warwick, becoming the Licensees of the Warwick Tavern on Crompton Street in 1931.
Following his education Harry became a Hydraulic Brake Packer and during the second quarter of 1936 married Phylis Ethel Young in Warwick. They had one daughter Pauline Ann born the same year, but who tragically died aged just 17 months old, she was buried in Warwick Cemetery on 21st February 1938.
The 1939 Register shows Harry and Phylis living at 20 Queen’s Square, Warwick and he had now also joined the Auxiliary Fire Service. Following the start of World War II on 3rd September 1939 Harry was called up, serving in the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment as a Private with service number 5256196. The 1st Battalion served extensively during World War II, participating in campaigns across multiple theatres. Initially deployed to Palestine, they later fought in Sudan, Eritrea, Abyssinia, and the Western Desert, including notable actions in Tobruk.
It was whilst fighting in Tobruk that Harry was killed on 14th June 1942, subsequently buried in the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery at Tobruk, AL Buṭnān, Libya. His name was also added to the Warwick War Memorial alongside his brothers Slim and Bill.
Harry was posthumously awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star and War Medal 193-45s. Phylis never remarried and died 1995 aged 85
1939-45 Star. Africa Star. War Medal 1939-45.
|
|
Warwick War Memorial showing names of William Henry Howlett and his brothers.
|
|
|
|
Warwick Cemetery. Grave of Alfred Patrick John Howlett with memorial stone to George William and William Henry.
The Story CLICK on Leo Thomas Howlett to see the story
Click here to read about William'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
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Africa Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: Leo Thomas HOWLETT
Go to Next Page: Brian Miles Pearson HUBBARD
Go to Previous Page: Leo Thomas HOWLETT
Go to Next Page: Brian Miles Pearson HUBBARD
Page last updated 5 Dec 25
xxxx
