Family group: Four: Third Class Staff Sergeant W. B. Howes, Army Service Corps South Afr...

Family group: Four: Third Class Staff Sergeant W. B. Howes, Army Service Corps South Africa 1877-79, 1 clasp, 1879 (T/3177. 3rd C. S. Sergt. W. Howes. A.S. Corps); Egypt and Sudan 1882-89, dated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (3177, 3rd Cl: S.S. W. Howes, *** Co. C & T. C.)’; Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., 3rd issue, small letter reverse (3177. 3rd Cl: S. Sgt. W. Howes. A.S.C.); Khedive’s Star, dated 1882, reverse impressed ‘3177. W. B. Howes C & T. Corps very fine Three: Sapper W. C. Howes, 128th Field Company, Royal Engineers, who was killed during an accidental explosion, when eight charges went off at a stores depot which backed on to an Advanced Dressing Station, 31 December 1915. A number of casualties were suffered amongst the Sappers, the Field Ambulance Unit, and a nearby works party from the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment 1914-15 Star (69408 Spr: W. C. Howes. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (69408 Spr. W. C. Howes. R.E.); Memorial Plaque (William Charles Howes) in card envelope of issue, with collar titles, nearly extremely fine (8) £700-£900 --- William Bentley Howes was born in Worcester, and attested for the 20th Foot at Birmingham in December 1870. He transferred to the Commissariat and Transport Corps in October 1872, and served with the corps in South Africa and Egypt. Howes advanced to 3rd class staff sergeant, and was discharged in December 1891. Sold with portrait photograph of recipient in uniform, and copied research. William Charles Howes was born in Plumstead, Kent, and resided in Hillingdon, Middlesex. He attested for the Royal Engineers in March 1915. Howes served during the Great War with the 128th Field Company, Royal Engineers on the Western Front from August 1915. Sapper Howes was accidentally killed by the explosion of gun cotton, 31 December 1915, whilst preparing material for the accompaniment to a raid. The circumstances surrounding his death are as follows: ‘Lieut. Ruse, two N.C.O.s and seven Sappers were told off to accompany a raiding party into the German lines. The party was struck off all other duties and trained with the remainder of the troops, told off for the raid, in the duties which would be required of them. The R.E. were required to take over explosives and destroy any machine gun emplacements, mine shafts and as much of the parapet as possible and also to block the two flanks of a certain portion of the enemy’s line. It was decided to make up and take over eight charges of gun cotton of 20lbs each. Three similar charges were fired against a parapet similar to that which it was intended to attack during the training of the detachment. Lieut. Ruse selected one Corporal and three Sappers and specially trained them in making up of the charges. On the afternoon of 31.12.15 the charges were apparently made up by the above party and about 6pm they were working, apparently on the cases containing them in the advanced store of the 128th Field Coy. R.E. where the explosion occurred. Lieut. Ruse, the Corporal and three Sappers were all killed and four Sappers who were loading stores in the yard as well as a number of Infantry and R.A.M.C. who were also in the yard were injured. From the appearance of the locality I am of the opinion that the whole of the eight charges were fired. There is no direct evidence as to what the party was actually doing at the time. Lieut. Ruse was a very efficient officer and had a knowledge of explosives and the handling of them much above the average. He was very cool headed and was not likely to have been nervous or excited.’ (Report of Lieutenant Colonel A. G. Bremner, R.E., C.R.E. 23rd Division refers) The above took place at the brasserie at Chappelle D’Armentiers, where the field company had a stores depot, and the building was shared with the 70th Field Ambulance Advanced Dressing Station. Howes was killed along with Lieutenant E. W. Ruse, Sappers R. Brown, F. Churchill and J. F. Fleming, and 4 others members of 128th Field Company being wounded. A further man was killed and 10 wounded at the Dressing Station, whilst a work party from the 8th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment also suffered one man killed and 8 wounded. Sapper Howes is buried in the Erquinghem-Lys Chuchyard Extension, France. Sold with three contemporary letters, two of which written on Y.M.C.A. paper, all addressed to recipient’s wife - one from his commanding officer, one from a friend, and another from the mother of another casualty. With copied research. For the Memorial Plaque of Lieutenant Ruse, see Lot 490.