Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

Jesse Howard was born in Churwell, West Yorkshire and the family lived in the adjacent town of Morley.  His father Herbert was a cotton warp dresser and young Jesse (14) was learning to weave in the cloth mill.  His mother Ada had had eight children by this time but sadly three had died.  Jesse was 20 years old when his father died.

Driver Jesse Howard of the 310^th Royal Field Artillery was one of the many troops passing through Peterborough East Station who were based at Somerleyton Camp near Lowestoft.  His service record has not been found so the precise details of his time in the military are not available but we can calculate that he attested in May 1915, probably joining the Royal Artillery.  Very soon after his book entry, he departed for France and joined the 103^rd Brigade RFA who had been in France for a year.  In January 1917, he was hospitalised for a week in Arques, suffering from scabies.

During 1917, the unit saw extensive action in France and Flanders including battles at Messines and Passchendaele before a move to Italy in November 1917, transferring to the front line on 4 December at Montello.  On 1 August 1918, Driver Howard was killed in action near Deuville whilst serving with B Battery.  He was buried in Deuville Communal Cemetery Extension, just north of Vicenza, Northern Italy.  http://bit.ly/2orA28U

Please get in touch if you can tell us more about this soldier.