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838 (later 434915) Sapper CHARLES ORREL HOWSON
Royal Engineers

by
Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis ©2008

ENLISTMENT(1,2,3)

Enlisted on 4 November 1914 as 838 Sapper, Lancashire Fortress Engineers, Royal Engineers Territorial Force. Upon call up for active service he was issued Regimental Number 434915.

UNIT OF ASSIGNMENT(4)

Based on his Regimental Number it appears that Sapper Howson was posted to the 555th (Lancashire) Army Troops Company, R.E.

ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE GREAT WAR(5)

The 555th Army Troops Company served on the lines of communication in Palestine during the Great War of 1914-1918.

BATTLES, CAMPAIGNS & UNIT LOCATIONS(3,5)

Gaza Campaign, 26 March to 7 November 1917.

Sapper Howson was transferred to the 20th Territorial Force Depot on 19 September 1918 and received a Class "P" discharge with gratuity by authority of War Office letter 601B. It should be noted that his discharge took place prior to the armistice on 11 November 1918.

MEDAL ENTITLEMENTS(3)

British War Medal

Victory Medal

REFERENCES

  1. Naming on the Victory Medal.
  2. Army Council Instructions (ACI) 2243 Appendix 192, of 1916.
  3. Medal Index Card.
  4. Regimental Numbers and units of assignment of R.E. soldiers based on a study of "Soldiers Died in the Great War."
  5. Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Engineers Journal, Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1925-32.