Thiepval Monument (KSLI) HOWELLS J

Thiepval Monument (KSLI) HOWELLS J

Thiepval Monument (KSLI) HOWELLS J

John Howells, 5th Btn KSLI, Pte 10817 was KinA 24th Aug 1916. He was born 1892 Lyth Bank, SAL the son of Thomas & Martha Rebecca (nee PALMER) Howells of 4 Lower Common Longden. Commemorated on Pier and Face 12A and 12D of the Thiepval Memorial.
Medals awarded were:- Victory  J/1/102, British J/1/102 and the 15 Star J/1/4B2. (Pip-Squeak & Wilfred)
John must have joined up early in 1915 and probably enlisted at the Copthorne Depot, he is most likely to have done his training at Aldershot, his Battalion’s move to France was delayed through an outbreak of Measles but the men knew they were on their way when one of their officers left on 9th May for duties at their port of embarkation. On 19th May 3 officers, 109 men and 79 horses left for France, the following day 28 officers and 797 other ranks left Aldershot on two trains, John was one of these, they travelled via Folkestone for Osterhove Camp on the outskirts Boulogne, John entered France on 22nd May 1915.
By this time it was quite clear to the men that their destination was the Ypres Salient and they were billeted in the area around Dickebusch and learnt how to dig trenches at night, until they eventually marched to Locre then up to Kemmel to the trenches, they were dug in near the Ypres-Roulers railway line where they had their first taste of German artillery and machine gun fire.
John's story as part of the 5th Battalion KSLI makes fascinating reading right up to July 1916 and the start of the battle of the Somme, then on the 7th August the Btn made the long train journey to Mericout, they then marched 2 miles to Buire-sur-Ancre, on the 12th they marched to Fricourt, where they took part in ‘The Battle of Delville Wood’.
On the 21st the Btn occupied a line of trenches on the edge of Delville Wood when a continuous bombardment from our artillery hammered the enemy lines during the 22nd and 23rd, At 5.45am on the 24th the attack began with the 5th Bt KSLI’s in the centre, 9th KRRC on their right flank and 5th Ox & Bucks on their left, the 5th Btns attack was successful and the enemy was cleared from the wood but it was temporary because their right flank was unsupported, and the Btn had to withdraw, they had captured 2 machine guns, 2 officers and 115 men, but our casualties were heavy, the Btn lost 7 officers and 194 men,
Private John Howells 10817 was one of them.