Description
Queen’s South Africa, bar Cape Colony, 16 Trooper Frederick Howell, Warren’s Mounted Infantry, early enlistment, Nos 15 and 17 were his sons, all 3 signing up to fight in the war, as amongst the first to enlist in the newly raised unit.
Officially impressed: “16 Tpr: F. Howell. Warren’s M.I.”
Confirmed on the medal roll.
The Howells family all signed up at the same time, being given very low service numbers:
Number 15, Pte William Howells (Son, Born 1880)
Number 16, Pte Frederick Howells (Father, Born 1858-9)
Number 17, Pte Pryce Howells (Son, Born 1878)
Enlistment books note all 3 men signed on 9th January 1901, and left at the end of their conditions of service on 13th April 1901.
According to the books, Service Number 1, Private Fritz Frederick Frank signed on during 8th January, so they were certainly amongst the very first to enlist.
The family name was in fact the unusual name “Howells”, the medal rolls read Howell, which would be how all 3 medals would be named and issued.
Mr Frederick William Howells, was born during 1859 in England (Possibly actually in Monmouth Wales, where a man was born with this name circa 1860)
He listed his Wife as Next of Kin, living at 19 Buitengracth Street in Cape Town.
He was a Ballastman who signed up for service at Capetown, aged 42, on 9th January 1901.
He died aged 64 in Woodstock, on 30th March 1922.
