Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Federal Standard, Friday, January 10, 1919 p2 c3 Soldiering - Death of Cpl Howes
Mr and Mrs Howes, of Chiltern, have received the following communication from France concerning the death of their son, Corporal William Pinkerton Howes, who was killed in action on the 27th August last. "Just a few lines to express my sympathy for the sad loss of your son, Willie, who was killed on the 27th Aug. I have been a pal of Willie's ever since I came away from Australia. We met first in a signal school in England, where we had many good times together. I was sent to France some months before him for he was made a Corporal and kept on the instructional staff as his ability as signaller was greater than mine. A few months later, to my great joy, he joined up with me in France and was put in charge of the same company signal section that I was in. That pleased him as we were to go into battle together. After that he and I had lots of experiences together, especially in March when the Hun broke through. We had some terrible experiences signalling under shellfire. But 'Billy' was a good soldier and I would follow him anywhere. We always shared the same dugout, and it there was broken telephone wires to mend he and I used always go out together to set matters right. He was worth his weight in gold for the way he used to keep up communications for the company, and a braver soldier never left Australia. He had many friends in the battalion, and we all feel the loss of our comrade. The sad event happened on the 27th August. We left Curlu to take Clery Copse. At about 12 noon Willie was killed. We were advancing over a ridge and the Germans started to shell. A shell burst near Will and he was killed instantly. I was not with him at the time as we were allotted different parties, but I made enquiries of the chaps who saw him killed, and they told me he was killed instantly and bore no pain. The position was near the Corbre-Perrone road. I do not know where he was buried as I had to move on with the advance. I cannot express on paper my sympathy for yourself and family at the sad loss of your son and my comrade. I am a Euroa boy and knew Tommy (deceased's brother) when he was in the bank there. A.J.Johnstone.