HOWSON, Richard Colvin

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Toronto, Ontario
Regimental Number
776085
Rank
Sergeant
Date of Death
Age at Death
27 years 7 months
Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         3rd Canadian Infantry Division
                                             9th Infantry Brigade
                                             116th Battalion  -  Ontario County  -  Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   776085
RESIDENCE:                    Montreal - Quebec 
DATE OF BIRTH:            January 13, 1890
                                             Teeswater – Bruce County - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 22, 1917                   27 years     7 months
CEMETERY:                     Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension – Aix-Noulette –
                                             Pas de Calais – France                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
                                             I     K     18
PARENTS:                         Mr. William and Lizzie Howson – Wingham - Ontario
Occupation:                        Advertising Representative -       
                                             Commercial Press Ltd.         Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         July 20, 1916 – Toronto into the 126th Peel Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 26 years     6 months

Sergeant Howson had been a Lieutenant, but he wanted to do his part in the war effort and be on the firing line he gave up his commission to be a private. 
The Empress of Britain departed Canada and Halifax and arrived In England on August 24, 1916. In the middle of September, he was promoted to Sergeant. On October 18, 1916 Sergeant Howson transferred to the 116th Battalion. He went into France on February 11, 1917 and then was able to join his unit on April 1, 1917.
Sergeant Howson and his men were involved in some horrific fighting in the trenches near Lens when he gave his life in action.
Brigade Diaries: state that the weather was good all day with some clouds and the wind was westerly at 15 mph and then during the morning of August 22, 1917 the 116th Battalion relieved the 27th Batallion – City of Winnipeg of the 6th Brigade in the right sub sector. The Battalion prior to the relief was located at Fosse 10 by Sains-en-Gohelle.
Batallion Diaries: state that the 116th Batallion relieved the 27th Battalion in Chickory Trench and that this relief was completed very early on the morning of August 23rd. The diaries also state that the enemy artillery was very active on this part of the frontthe whole day and the casualties were three men killed and eleven men being wounded. It is very possible that Sergeant Howson lost his life during this heavy enemy shelling on August 23, 1917.