John Carlton Howe
John Carlton Howe, known to his family as Karl, was born 1 August 1897 in Uxbridge ON. His parents, Ira and Elizabeth (Vanluven) Howe had 2 daughters and 5 sons in total, including twins John Carlton and James Edwin as the youngest. The family lived at 40 St Patrick Street in Lindsay ON.
On 29 November 1915, John was the first of his brothers to enlist, joining the 109th Battalion in Lindsay before being transferred to the 20th Battalion. His twin brother, James Edwin, followed on 18 March 1916 and their older brother Charles Russell on 2 December 1916. John and Edwin were both attached to the 20th Battalion, and Charles served with the CASC. Edwin was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal as a signaller.
The 20th Battalion was preparing to begin the major assault on Hill 70, and it was covered in detail in the battalion war diary. Starting in the very early hours of 15 Aug 1917, in conjunction with a half platoon from the 19th Battalion, the Battalion was organized into their jumping off points. At approximately 4:25am, the barrage opened and the troops advanced:
“Our waves had formed up quite close together and all, moving forward at once, had cleared the ground covered by the enemy barrage when it came down at 429am. Our barrage rested 6 minutes on the enemy front line, and then 6 minutes 100 yards in rear. Thereafter it advanced by 100 yards bounds at 4 minute intervals until 200 yards in advance of the first objective COWLEY trench. It rested there for 26 minutes and then moved on by 3 minute bounded to CINNIBAR trench. The barrage was well timed, among the houses it was a trifle too fast and a trifle too slow in the open, on the whole it was excellent. There were a few shorts which caused us some casualties, though it is quite possible our men were too keen and got too close to it.” It goes on to say
“Our casualties during the advance were not heavy, 1 officer, Lieut AA Beckett killed, 2 wounded, 15 other ranks killed and 70 wounded”.
At some point during the fighting on 15 August 1917, John was reported killed.
John Howe is buried in Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, just west of Lens, France. He was 20 years old.
