Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur Howard actually enlisted under his own name in December 1914, in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and was allocated the regimental number 749.

He was the son of Henry and Henrietta Maria Howard of Thane’s Creek near Warwick, Queensland.

Arthur left Brisbane on 9 February 1915 and in May 1915 he was attached as batman to Lieutenant S.H. Worthington 2nd Light Horse Regiment, in Egypt. It seems he was attached to the Military Police until January 1916 when he rejoined the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and then hurt his back. He was discharged from the hospital and rejoined the 2nd Light Horse Regiment on 5 April 1916 at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt. From that day on he was reported as illegally absent. No record of him could be found despite the best efforts of the authorities. A note on his file in 1919 states “still investigating whereabouts of Howard.”

It is unknown how he made his way back to Australia but somehow, he did, and reenlisted at Enoggera on 20 March 1917 under the name Cyril Peter Burns, as well as fabricating his place of birth as New York, U.S.A. He gave no next of kin and gave his address as Lismore, NSW. He left Sydney with the 47th Battalion in August 1917.

He joined the 47th Battalion in France on 21 February 1918 and was killed in action only six weeks later when the 47th Battalion was grimly defending the Dernancourt railway line against an overwhelming German attack. No details are available as to his death but it is noted in his file that he was buried in the Dernancourt Railway Military Cemetery. His remains could not be found after the war.

It was found later that Cyril Peter Burns and Alfred Howard were identical and his mother, Henrietta Howard, received his medals and plaque although his 1914-15 Star was forfeited due to his illegal absence in 1916.

His brother, 576 L-Sgt. George Howard 20th Battalion AIF, was awarded a Military Medal for throwing bombs on Gallipoli, before he was seriously wounded at Pozieres and sent home to Australia in 1916.