James Shaw Howe was the second son of Clarence Samuel Howe and Catherine Shaw. He was born in Nairn in May 1890.
James was a merchant sailor by profession. Around 1911 he and two of his brothers, Robert and Frederick emigrated to Australia.
When WW1 broke out, the three brothers enlisted in the Australian army. James served in the 5th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division AIF. He is described as being 5'5", hair brown, eyes blue, complexion florid - from this I can guess that he looked like his father ( I have several photographs of Clarence S. Howe)
After a time in the Dardanelles in 1915, he landed in Marseiiles in 1916 where he fought in the Battle of The Somme and subsequently in Flanders. A recommendation for the Military Medal reads as follows:
" L/Cpl James Shaw Howe. At Pozières during the actions of 25/26th July 1916, as signaller and telephonist, this NCO performed valuable work in repairing the telephone wires under heavy shell fire, also carrying messages from Company Headquarters back to Battalion H'qrs and passing on each occasion through enemy barrage. During the attack on 25th July, he carried in conjunction with L/Cpl S.L.Williams, two wounded men back under heavy fire to our support trenches"
In the next column - "No record of award"
In other records, James is reported on one occasion for going A.W.O.L and on a couple more for drunkenness.
On October 4th, 1917, during the 3rd Battle of Ieper, he received gunshot wounds to the left side of his head. He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station where he was treated but where, on 7th October, he died from those wounds.
Ninety-seven years ago today, my great uncle died. He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, near Poperinge, Flanders. I believe that I was probably the first family member to visit his grave. I go whenever I am in Flanders - the next time will be December this year.
His two brothers both survived the war, Robert losing an arm and Frederick, from what I have deduced from his records, suffering severe shell-shock. They both went back to Australia. Their brother (and my grandfather), John McIntosh Howe, also served but in the British Merchant Navy.
I suspect that James was a bit of lad! Australian military records are available online and in his, I have found a series of letters from a Mrs Tulloch in Melbourne to the army, claiming to be writing on behalf of a friend and desperate to have word of him. Between the lines, it seems to imply that he had left this young woman with broken promises and owing her money! I like to think that he would have gone back to her but as he never once wrote to her during his time in the army, maybe I am wrong.
Tonight I raise a glass to his memory.
