Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John's son, Private John William Howarth. 3827. 19th BN, was killed in action on the 26th of July 1916, aged 17 years 2 months old.

John Falkiner Shepherd Howarth served in the Boer War with the 1st Contingent to South Africa in the NSW Army Medical Corps. He was born at Yendon near Buninyong in Victoria, and was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal and 5 clasps (Paardeburg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, and Cape Colony). His father John Howard and his brother Horace Maitland Howarth also served in the Boer War. Horace was with the NSW Artillery, 'A' Battery in South Africa over 2 years. Both brothers enlisted again when the WW1 broke out, both being amongst the first to join up in 1914.

142 Private John F.S. Howarth left with the original E Company 4th Battalion AIF in October 1914 which was present at the Landing on Anzac Cove 25th April 1915 and fought there until he was killed in action on the 5 May, 1915. His wife, Elizabeth Howarth, was living at Fern Street, Randwick, Sydney, NSW and he was the father of six children. He was 41 years of age. Two of the youngest, Hector and Clarence, who were 11 and 8 years old respectively, were both were given a pension of 13 pounds per annum. John was buried in the Beach Cemetery Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, Turkey.

His brother Trooper Horace Howarth had joined the7th Light Horse Regiment and was severely wounded on the Gallipoli peninsular in July 1915 by a shell which caused the loss of his right eye and left arm. One day in the trenches a Turkish shell (an 18-pounder) fell near him and his mates without exploding. He rushed forward to cast it away out of danger, but just as he was in the act of picking it up it burst, shattering his left arm. He was taken to Malta, where the arm had to be amputated just below the elbow. A bullet also entered his head and lodged behind the left eye, where it remained for five weeks, until the eye had to be removed, and the bullet extracted. Trooper Howarth apparently wore the extracted bullet on his watch chain. He went to Sydney on his return to have an artificial arm fitted. Horace lived in Sydney until he passed away in 1950.

John F.S. Howarth also had three sons Rupert, John William and Harold, all of whom enlisted in the war. Rupert served in the Royal Australian Navy and the 3rd and 34th Battalions and returned to Australia July 1919. Harold served in the 1st Pioneer Battalion of the AIF and returned July 1919. 3827 Private John William Howarth, 19th Battalion was killed in action at Pozieres on the 26 July 1916. John was born in Queenscliff, Victoria in 1899 and was thus only 17 years of age when he died. He had given his age as 18 years and 5 months when he had enlisted nine months previous. He is buried in the Pozieres British Cemetery Ovillers-La-Boisselle, France.

John's son, Private John William Howarth. 3827. 19th BN, was killed in action on the 26th of July 1916, aged 17 years 2 months old.

John Falkiner Shepherd HOWARTH (Service Number 142) was born on 3rd October 1874 at Yendon, Victoria. He had served with the Australian Forces in South Africa, and then England, before being discharged at his own request.

In March 1901 he began work for the NSW Tramways as a temporary labourer at Randwick, at first with steam trams and then from September the electric trams. He became a lifters’ assistant in 1910 and it was from this role that he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces on 14th August 1914. He enlisted at Randwick on 21st August. He was at that time married to Elizabeth.

He was allotted to the 4th Australian Infantry Battalion. He left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Euripides’ on 20th October 1914. He was promoted to Sergeant the day before. He was reduced to Corporal as a result of Court Martial, for drunkenness on duty, on 19th December 1914 and further reduced to the ranks as a Private at his own request on 8thJanuary 1915.  On 4th April 1915, he was again promoted to Lance Corporal and he retained this rank until his death.

Howarth landed on Gallipoli on Anzac Day.

He was killed in action on 5th May 1915.

His remains were exhumed and re-interred in Beach Cemetery, Gallipoli.

John Falkiner Shepherd Howarth left a widow and three children, Hector H Howarth, Maisey R L Howarth and Clarence R Howarth.

- based on the Australian War memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board