HOWARD, Ray Septimus
| Service Number: | 3556 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 June 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 57th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Echuca, Victoria, Australia, 13 February 1893 |
| Home Town: | Echuca, Campaspe, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Echuca, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Draper |
| Died: | Died of wounds, United Kingdom, 22 May 1918, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Grave 181046. Plot 11, Row A, Grave 3. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Echuca War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3556, 22nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Involvement 3556, 22nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked 3556, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Melbourne | |
| 22 May 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 3556, 57th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3556 awm_unit: 57 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-05-22 |
Ray Howard
Raymond Septimus Howard Service No 3556
Raymond Septimus Howard (Ray) was born in Echuca on 13 February 1893, the son of William Cadman Howard and Emma Stevens.
Ray enlisted in Melbourne on 29 June 1915, he was 22 years of age, his occupation was draper. While on pre-embarkation leave in Melbourne he married Mary Josine Birch of Geelong, in November 1915.
Corporal Ray Howard embarked ‘Australia’ on 5 April 1916 for Egypt with the 27th Battalion. He arrived in Alexandria, Egypt on 17 June 1916.
On 23 June 1916, Ray was transferred to the 57th Battalion in Marseilles, France and promoted to Sergeant on 12 July 1916.
Embarked 3 January 1917 on the hospital ship HMHS Formosa at Havre, France for England with Trench Feet. He was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, UK on 4 January 1917. Ray was transferred to the 65th Battalion on 23 March 1917.
On 28 May 1917, Ray qualified at 36th Course of Instruction at Southern Command Bombing School, Lynhurst, UK. He left Southampton, UK for France on 14 October 1917.
Ray was wounded at Villers-Bretoneux on 25 April 1917. He received bullet wounds to his right arm and abdomen. 9 May 1918 he embarked on the ‘Stad Antwerpen’ at Etaples, France for England where he was admitted to 1st London General Hospital.
Ray died of his wounds on 28 May 1918 died of wounds at the 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell. Shell had been found in his right arm and abdomen.
Sgt Ray Howard was buried at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey, UK with a full military funeral including a firing party. Pall bearers and buglers supplied by the AIF were in attendance. The coffin was draped with the Australian Flag and the Last Post played. His grave was to be turfed and an oak cross erected. Grave 181046. Plot 11, Row A, Grave 3.
Submitted 23 April 2022 by Kristine Howard
Biography contributed by Kristine Howard
Raymond Septimus Howard (Ray) was born in Echuca on 13 February 1893, the son of William Cadman Howard and Emma Stevens.
Ray was the youngest of 7 children. His siblings were Esther Mary (known as Ettie) (b 31 May1878); William James (b 2 May 1880); Rosa Nixon (b 31 May 1882); Elsie Emma (b 9 January 1885); Minnie Victoria (b 23 July 1888); and Frank Rodney (b 14 March 1890.
His brother Frank had enlisted on 20 September 1914 at Meekatharra, WA as a Private with the 16th Battalion, E Company. Frank was killed in action on 2 September 1915 at Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, he was 25 years of age.
Ray enlisted in Melbourne on 29 June 1915, he was 22 years of age, his occupation was draper. While on pre-embarkation leave in Melbourne he married Mary Josephine Birch of Geelong, in November 1915.
Corporal Ray Howard embarked on the ‘Australia’ on 5 April 1916 for Egypt with the 27th Battalion. He arrived in Alexandria, Egypt on 17 June 1916.
On 23 June 1916, Ray was transferred to the 57th Battalion in Marseilles, France and promoted to Sergeant on 12 July 1916.
He embarked, 3 January 1917, on the hospital ship ‘HMHS Formosa’ at Havre, France for England with trench feet. He was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, England on 4 January 1917. Ray was transferred to the 65th Battalion on 23 March 1917.
On 28 May 1917, Ray qualified at 36th Course of Instruction at Southern Command Bombing School, Lynhurst, England. He left Southampton, England for France on 14 October 1917.
Ray was wounded at Villers-Bretoneux on 25 April 1918. He received bullet wounds to his right wrist and right flank below 12th rib and right kidney. On 9 May 1918, he embarked on the ‘Stad Antwerpen’ at Etaples, France for England where he was admitted to the 1st London General Hospital, Camberwell.
Ray died of his wounds, which had become septic, on 22 May 1918. Remains of shell had been found in his right arm and abdomen.
Sgt Ray Howard was buried at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey, England with a full military funeral including a firing party. Pall bearers and buglers supplied by the AIF were in attendance. The coffin was draped with the Australian Flag and the Last Post played. His grave was to be turfed and an oak cross erected. Grave 181046. Plot 11, Row A, Grave 3.
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