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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: wetstone on Tuesday 22 September 09 16:40 BST (UK)
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This is my first post on this forum so apologies in advance if this is not correct place or request inappropriate.
I have a cutting from an old scrapbook created by my gt grandmother which shows my gt, gt uncle Henry Howse (Howes) in uniform and wearing medals which I believe to be of crimean war vintage. The photo appears to have been taken later in his life possibly in the USA - there is frustrating little left of the context. Anyway, I have been unable to identify the uniform or the medals he is wearing and am hoping someone here can help. Image attached.
Henry Howse (often spelled Howes) was born in Latton, Wiltshire in about 1833. He shows on the 1851 census as a farmer's labourer and on the '61 as an Officer's Servant. I am guessing that in the interim he joined the army and served in the Crimea.
If anyone can identify the uniform or find him on the Crimean Medal Rolls I would be most grateful.
Wetstone
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The medals are indeed the Crimea Medal with 4 clasps (Alma, Balaklava, Inkermann, Sebastopol) and presumably the Turkish Crimea Medal alongside it.
He's infantry, the diced band on the Kilmarnock style cap would suggest a Scottish regiment and it does look to me like the buttons on his tunic are in groups of 3 (possibly). Hence I'm going to plump for the Scots Fusilier Guards (later simply the Scots Guards). :)
If in 1861 he's listed as an officer's servant, is he actually listed with the officer? The officer's identity may help if so.
If you give me a mo, I'll check the rolls for you.
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Crimea medal roll confirms a Pte Henry Howes, 1st Scots Fusilier Guards and appears to confirm 4 clasps. :)
I can't make out his number though I'm afraid.
Also in the same battalion was a Pte Joseph Howes died 8 Feb 1855 and a Pte Charles Howes died of wounds 8 Nov 1854. Any connection to Henry?
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Outstanding! Henry did indeed have brothers named Joseph and Charles but only Joseph b. 1832 would have been old enough to have fought in the Crimea. I need to do a lttle more checking but it looks like Joseph is absent from post '51 censae so this is likely Henry's slightly elder sibling.
Is there any more information on either Joseph or Charles in the medal roll?
Do you know where or how I might access records of soldiers who served in the Scots Fusilier Guards?
There is no clue in the '61 census which would help identify the officer who Henry served. Henry later married Elizabeth Emma Hibberd (Dec 1864) at Eton, Bucks so it's possible that was here the officer lived. After that I have found no further record of Henry and so assume that he may have emigrated. The Howse's were an adventurous lot - Henry's uncle Joseph (b. 1774) was a writer and fur factor for the Hudson's Bay Company and was the first Hudsons Bay man to cross the Rockies.
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I'll double check the rolls tonight, see if I can glean any other info about Joseph and/or Charles.
Do you know where or how I might access records of soldiers who served in the Scots Fusilier Guards?
The Guards regiments still hold their own archives and personnel records, so you'll need to contact the Scots Guards. Contact details here
http://www.theguardsmuseum.com/family.htm
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2727 Pte Charles Howes. died of wounds at sea 8 Nov 1854
I can see him listed on the Balaklava part of the roll, but the rest is hard to read. He was wounded at Inkermann according to the casualty lists.
4498 Pte Joseph Howes, died 8 Feb 1855
Doesn't seem to have been at Alma or Inkermann.
?469 Pte Henry Howes
The first digit of his number is still a mystery :(
But this is scraping the barrel from the roll I'm afraid. It's a notoriously difficult roll to read. However the casualty lists show that he was severely wounded at Inkermann (5 Nov) as was Charles, so that's a bonus.
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Another casualty list for Inkermann has Charles as severely wounded and Henry as slightly wounded. Seeing as Charles later died of wounds, this seems to be the right way round.
Charles Howes - severe gunshot wound across the back
Henry Howes - contusion left arm
:)
http://www.britishbattles.com/crimean-war/inkerman.htm
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I will make contact with the Guards Museum and see if they have more information about these three Howses as I am almost certain that both Henry and Joseph are my 2x gt grand uncles. Am hoping to discover where they were recruited as am surprised to find two Wiltshire farm hands serving with a Scots Guards Regiment.
Very many thanks for your research and this information.
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Hi, I am new to rootschat, I just looked up my great great grandmother Elizabeth Emma Hibberd and found your messages. She did indeed marry a Henry Howse, but he was a farm labourer, born in 1844 in Chalvey, Bucks, not Wiltshire in 1833. I have a photo of him aged 89 taken in 1932. He died in 1933. His parents were Henry Howse (yet another...!) and Mary Younge.
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It looks like I have merged two different Henry's. I must admit that the evidence for the marriage to Elizabeth was a bit thin - I see I have rated it 50% or less in my notes. It would be useful if you could let me know whether your Henry and Elizabeth had children - I am showing 2. William b. abt 1865 and Charles Edward b. 1867.
FWIW I did contact the Gaurds Archives and they were able to confirm that my Henry and his brother Joseph served in the Scots Guards and that both came from Cricklade. Henry was discharged from the army in 1862 and went to work for the de Crespigny family in London. He later married Ann Holdaway in 1871 and they had 8 children together. He died in 1908 in Brentford.
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Hi, yes they had 8 children that I know of, Amy Harriet, 1865, Mary Maria 1868, Henry 1870, Jesse 1872, Reuben 1873, David 1875, Elizabeth Charlotte 1878, Sarah Jane 1880. Mary Maria was my great-grandmother. 8-)
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Was Private Charles Howse from Cricklade too?
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Charles Howes was from Weston, Bath, Somerset. He was born in Jan 1820 and enlisted in the Scots Fusilier Guards on 21 Dec 1841 (age given 21 yrs 11 mo.) His profession on enlistment was given as labourer. Bounty received was £4-10s-0d
5ft 10.75 inches tall, sallow complexion, Hazel eyes, brown hair. Rank Private, reg no. 2727.
He was 'in the east' from 28 Feb 1854 and was severely wounded at the battle of Inkerman. Was also present at the Battles of Alma, Balaclava and at the seige of Sevastopol. He was awarded the medal and clasps.
He died at sea on 8 November 1855 of wounds received at Inkerman. (the date of death is also given as 8 Nov 1854 on his papers but his record of service shows his service ending on 8 Nov 1855)
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OK thanks .... am interested in the Cricklade boys.
Do you have similar potted history for both Joseph & Henry Howse?
Also I was interested in your comment about the Hudson Bay Howse .... but thought he was from a different line?
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Here are some notes on Henry from my research notes:
4469 Pte Henry Howes - 1st Battalion, Scots Fusilier Foot Guards
Enlisted on 11th January 1854. Attested at Gloucester on 12th January 1854. Aged 18yrs - which would make birth year 1836.
Trade on enlistment - labourer. Height 5ft 8.5 inches, Fresh complexion, hazel eyes, dark brown hair.
'In the East' from 27 June 1854 to 4 July 1856.
Holder of Crimea war medal with 4 bars (max) and Turkish Crimea Medal. (evidenced by photo) - Crimean War - Oct 1853 to Feb 1856
Crimea Medal Roll - 4469 Pte Henry Howes, 1st Scots Fusilier Guards confirms 4 clasps - Alma, Balaklava, Inkerman, Sebastopol. (wounded at Inkerman - contusion left arm and at Sebastopol - contusion of the head).
Also in the same battalion was a 4498 Pte Joseph Howes died 8 Feb 1855 - dysentery. (brother)
Awarded additional 1d per diem good conduct pay on 12 January 1859
Awarded additional 2d per diem good conduct pay on 12 January 1862
Listed as Officer's servant in 1861 census.
Discharged 15 April 1862 being unfit for further service due to varicose veins in the left leg. Reported by the Regimental Board to be a very good and efficient soldier, trustworthy and sober. In possession of two good conduct badges. Awarded pension of 8d for 2 years.
On discharge intended to reside at 55 Sloane Street, London.
(in 1861 home of Caroline de Crespigny (b. Hill Hall, Essex in 1794) and her daughter Josephine (b. 1834) also a cook and housemaid. Caroline was wife of Herbert Joseph Champion de Crespigny)
Awarded deferred pension of 4d per diem by Royal Hospital Chelsea on 20 November 1888.
Awarded pension of 9d per diem from 15 January 1901 after application to the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Pension increased to 1/6d per diem 29 May 1902
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and here are some notes on Joseph, seperate because there seems to be a word limit on replies here.
4498 - Private Joseph Howse 1st Scots Fusilier Guards.
Enlisted 15 February 1854 at Gloucester. Received £5 bounty. Attested 16th February 1854. Signed in own hand. Gave age as 18yrs 10 mo which makes birthdate April 1935.
Height 5' 7", fresh complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair.
Medical - fit - Dr Lovegrove, Barton St, Gloucester 16th Feb. Re-examined London 21 Feb - fit.
Overseas -'in the East' from 27 June 1854.
Died of dysentery 8 February 1855
In 1851 census Joseph was working as a farmer's labourer.
Henry was also listed as a farm labourer on 1851 census but in 1861 he was shown as an 'Officer's Servant'. He amrried in Sep 1871 to Ann Holdaway and had 8 children after 1871. He had 2, possible 3 children prior to 1871 so I had assumed that he was a widower when he married Ann. However I have yet to trace a previous marriage.
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Weird! There does seem to be a word limit.
Henry worked as a stonemason until the late 1800's but in 1901 he was a porter working in the census office. He died in 1908.
Henry and Joseph were related to Joseph Howse the Fur Trader through a common ancestor. They were 5th cousins twice removed. Henry and Joseph's father was John Howse (b 1803 in Latton) my 3 x gt grandfather.
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Hi Wetstone,
Not too sure if you still use this site, but I am also related to Henry Howse/Howes and would like to know which line you decend from.
I hope you find this so that I may talk directly to you at a later date.
Brian
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Hello folks. Coming to this party a little late. I'm Paul Howes, the founder of the One-Name Study into my name and those which sound similar, like Howse. There is much in this thread that I can use to add to my study. So thank you for your work.
You may like to know that on my study website I have recently published a letter from Henry to his parents, written in November 1855. It's here:
https://www.howesfamilies.com/histories/HenryHowesCrimeaLetter.pdf
If there is a descendant of Henry reading this, please do get in touch.
Regards
Paul