Virtual
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Australia

Jabez (known as Howard or Howie) was born to Thomas Howard and Kate Vial in Kadina on the 22nd June 1908, one of three children. His first name was incorrectly spelt on his enlistment form as Jobez). His siblings included Lorna Kathleen (Mercy) and Betty with the family living at Renmark North on Block E.
Post school, Howie worked as a labourer but enjoyed being involved in local activities, including rowing with the Renmark Club and being part of a Fancy Dress Ball for the Ral Ral Cricket Club at the Block 32 Hall in August ’27. Howard dressed as Punchinello with others being an Indian Squaw, Dutch Boy and gypsies. Howard was unfortunate the following year to be fined 5/ and £1 court fees for contravening the lights on Vehicles Act, a penalty that he would rather not have received. However, his knowledge of vehicles and their maintenance was to be invaluable during his years of service.
23-year-old Howie became engaged to Lydia Boetcher in May ’32. She had previously been on the staff of the local Brinkworth telephone exchange for 12 months in ’28 where she was described as a courteous and efficient operator. The young couple married in 1935. They were to have two sons, Kevin, born in January ’37 and Roger Ronald born in December ’40, both in the Renmark Hospital.
Howard enlisted to serve in WWII in July ’40, as did another local, Andrew Kelly becoming SX8179 and SX8214 respectively and allocated to the 2/48th Battalion. Over that year many other local men also enlisted with many allocated to the same battalion. They initially trained at Wayville, now the Adelaide Showgrounds before marching to Woodside for more training.
The new soldiers from the region returned to Renmark on pre-embarkation leave visiting friends and relatives in September. Many of the 17 young men were in Howard and Andy’s 2/48th Battalion, including SX8176 Dick Smith, SX8039 Donald F. Priester, SX8184 Walter Smith, SX6876 Harold A. J. Roy, SX6866 Roy T. Loveday. SX8179 Howard J. Trenwith, SX6846 Harry Lock, SX6839 Henry Boothey, SX7996 Colin Roger R. Jacka and SX8274 Andrew Kelly.
The young men were feted at the Renmark Institute in October where presentations were made to the enlistees. Over 500 people attended to hear speeches and watch the presentations of propelling pencils and cigarettes made to the men, including Howie. The Mayor said that “he felt the huge crowd present was more expressive than anything he could say of the regard in which they were held. He felt that the lads they had met to honour were brimful of the true British spirit. Right through history, England had fought for tolerance, freedom, and honour. So was it any wonder that the men of Australia had answered the call as they had.”
Following their brief leave the new soldiers returned to the 2/48th with their contingent then embarking on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940. There the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. Howard learned of the arrival of his second son, Roger on the 28th December, soon after he arrived in the Middle East. By December ’41 Howard had transferred to the postal unit as a driver and was to become one of the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Following service in the Middle East, the men returned home to Australia and thence to Renmark with the huge contingent being welcomed by family and friends. The local paper recorded Driver Trenwith spending this precious leave with his wife. Howie’s compatriots included Messrs. Walter Coombe SX7412, Bryan Nuske SX5237, Dick, F. Priester SX8039, W. Smith, R. T. Loveday SX6866. H. J. Trenwith SX8179, Harry Lock SX6846, D. French, R. Porter, Bryan, Lunday, R. Smith, R. Jacka and Andy Kelly.
The local Murray Pioneer noted the men’s return with record crowds massed at the railway station. A hugely patriotic article appeared. ‘Behind the official announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) this week that a further contingent of troops had arrived in Australia from the Middle East lies a story of great excitement and enthusiasm in the River districts. The joy which came to human hearts as trains conveying the troops drew into the various stations could only be appreciated by those who witnessed the unforgettable scenes on the crowded platforms It recalled to the mind happenings of 12 months earlier when the first troops from overseas returned to Australia.
‘Many of these heroes of Rommel's El Alamein debacle—their most recent triumph—had been away from home for three years and were among the "Rats of Tobruk". From the time some days earlier, that news leaked through that the men had arrived at "An Australian port," relatives had lived in an air of joyous expectancy, which broke loose aa the various men reached their home stations on three weeks' leave. Practically without exception the men looked 100 per cent fit, though some carried the unmistakable traces of hard campaigning under difficult conditions.’
‘At Renmark the station yard was crowded on the several occasions when special coaches were attached to the passenger train to brins the men to their home stations. The largest attendance was on the Saturday afternoon that the first of the Diggers arrived home. All parking room in the station yard and approaches having been taken, cars were parked for some hundred yards down the road outside, and there must have been 500 people present. The height of community enthusiasm, however, was not reached until the welcome home social on the Thursday evening, when the record attendance of 1,000 thronged the Institute to honour these heroes of many campaigns.
‘It was Indeed a "meeting of the clans", including people from other districts as well as local residents. The hall's capacity proved unequal to the occasion. Renmark was determined to welcome those who had fought and suffered. A number of wounded men were present. Mothers, wives and sweethearts were noted in the crowd. Seats were provided on the stage as well as all round the hall—sometimes double-banked—but even then there was scarcely "standing room" for the mighty throng.’
In a eulogistic speech the RSL President commented that “in greeting these fine young men, that a mere 35 years ago they were peace loving lads in a peaceful country, but by virtue of their earnest training and their high ideals they were today fighting soldiers second to none in the world. He reiterated that nobody in Australia was more proud of them than members of the original AIF. Old soldiers had watched their exploits with the keenest interest. Many of them were sons of men who had served twenty-five years earlier.
"It must be a matter of pride that of the eleven Victoria Crosses awarded to Australians in this war three of these greatest awards have been made to members of one battalion." The men who bad assisted in these great exploits stood before them. They still had a job to do and he knew from conversation with the gallant men themselves that they desired to complete the task before them. This was not the "welcome" to which they looked forward, but a greeting in passing. He wished them all God speed and a final happy return to Renmark. On behalf of ex-servicemen, he congratulated them on what had been accomplished and expressed confidence in their determination to carry on their valorous campaign to victory.’
Howard was finally discharged in March ’44. His parents were able to share a few years with him, Lydia and their two young boys and were delighted with young Kevin being named the top boy student when he achieved his Progress Certificate as a Grade 7 student at the Renmark North Primary School in ‘49. That year, Grandfather Thomas was involved in a car accident in Renmark as he was turning into 19th Street, with Thomas’ car ploughing into a stone garden wall. Fortunately, there were no serious consequences for either driver with Thomas escaping relatively unscathed. Two years later, aged 68 Thomas died in September ’51 and was buried in the Renmark Cemetery. Howie’s mother, Kate lived a further five years and aged 71 died in September ’57.
Howard joined the Renmark RSL where he held various positions including vice chairman.
Lydia lived to be 79 when she died in an accident in August in 1991. Within four years, in January ’95, their first-born son, 57-year-old Kevin died and now also rests with his extended family. Aged 89, Howard died three years later, on the 26th February 1998 and was also buried in the Renmark Cemetery with Lydia and also near his son and parents.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion