Description
Queen’s South Africa Medal, 2 bars, Orange Free State, Transvaal, 4148 Private Edmund Charles Hows, 13th Hussars, an 18 year veteran of the 13 Hussars who was invalided in 1914 and later died in Mesopotamia.
London and Finchley Times, 11th August 1916:
“PRIVATE EDMUND HOWS
Mr E. Hows, of North Holme, Nether-street, North Finchley, has received information that one of his sons, Private Edmund Hows, died in the Persian Gulf from excessive heat on July 28th, 1916.
Private Hows had served 18 years in His Majesty’s Army. He went through the South African War. When the present conflict broke out he was a reservist, but immediately joined up, and with his regiment, proceeded to France, and took part in the Retreat from Mons.
On 28th December 1914, he was buried by a ‘Jack Johnson’ and was invalided home. After an interval of 8 months he returned to France, and was subsequently sent to Mesopotamia. He was 35 years of age and leaves a wife and 3 children. The deceased was for many years Chauffeur to Mr A.M.M. Forbes.
Mr Hows has another son, who has been out in France since August 1914.”
Edmund Charles Parrish Hows was born about 1880 in Lambeth, London son of Edmund J. Hows and Ann Parrish.
As of about 1906 he was a reservist and Coachman, later being Chauffer to a Mr A.M.M. Forbes.
He went overseas representing North Finchley in WW1 and is on their roll of honour.
He was invalided home during December 1914 being buried by a “Jack Johnson” slang for the German’s largest shell during WW1.
Having returned to service he went from France to Mesopotamia, for the campaign to relieve the Siege of Kut.
He died from the effects of the intense heat on 28th July 1916, he was one of many casualties during the campaign from Heat Stroke, The Army was not well equipped for dealing with the weather and the adjustments that had to be made to effectively survive in the heat.
