HOWARD, Eric John
| Service Number: | 2949 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 February 1916, Casula, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Seven Hills, New South Wales, 27 August 1893 |
| Home Town: | Seven Hills, Blacktown, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fireman |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 24 July 1916, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Puchevillers British Cemetery, France Plot Ii, Row A, Grave No. II0 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Blacktown War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Casula, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 2949, 31st Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' |
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| 14 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2949, 31st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne | |
| 23 Jul 1916: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Private, 2949, 1st Pioneer Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2949 awm_unit: 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-24 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Eric John HOWARD (Service Number 2949), was born in Seven Hills on 27th August 1893. He was the son of a fruit inspector with the Department of Agriculture. He joined the NSW Government Railways as a shop boy at Eveleigh workshops in January 1909,. In 1911 was promoted to cleaner (first step on the career path of an engineman). He was promoted to locomotive fireman in December 1915. In January 1916 he was released from duty to enlist in the AIF at Casula.
He embarked from Australia in March 1916 and was sent at first to Egypt with reinforcements. He was transferred there from the infantry to the 1st Pioneer Battalion He was sent to France in May 1916 and ‘taken on strength’ by his unit in June.
On 24th July 1916 he was picked up by the 1st Field Ambulance. He was suffering a gunshot wound to the throat, and admitted to the No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station. He died of his wounds on the same day. He was buried in Puchvillers Cemetery, 7½ miles SSE of Doullens, France.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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