Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Harringay's Boy Soldier at the Somme
Sidney Ernest Howe was born in Islington in late 1898 and prior to the war he lived at 70 Warham Road with his father, a sorter for the London Postal Service, his mother, younger sister, paternal grandfather and aunt.
Sidney's (limited) military records show that he served in the 1/5th (aka 56th) Battalion of the London Rifle Brigade as a Rifleman from 30th March 1916.
You can read more about that fateful day, the first day of the Battle of the Somme here (or rather, at the link above).
Sidney was killed in action that day - 3 months after he signed up as far as I can tell - and was awarded, as so many soldiers were, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal posthumously.
His body was never found.
He was 17 years old.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lesley Ramm on
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Information from Hornsey Historical Society research
HOWE, SIDNEY ERNEST
Rank: Rifleman Service No: 2891
Date of Death: 01/07/1916 Age: 17
Regiment/Service: London Regiment (5th London Rifle Brigade) 1st/5th Bn.
Memorial THIEPVAL MEMORIAL Panel Reference Pier and Face 9 D
Additional Information:
Son of Ernest Septimus Howe and Emily Louise Howe, of 70, Warham Rd., Hornsey, London.
http://www.gommecourt.co.uk/fallenlrb.html
His body was never found and his name is inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 9 D.
On Hornsey War Memorial Board 15
Hornsey Journal of 1/6/1916 page 2 notes he was a casualty.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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I visited some of the war grave sites a few years ago. When you walk around them what strikes you is that so many were really just children.
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Permalink Reply by StephenBln on
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They were only kids.. and not exclusively ethnically from the British Isles.
I recently visited the Commonwealth WW2 cemetery in Berlin, mostly airman, bombers shot down, as well as POW. There is also a WW1 Commonwealth cemetery in Berlin. I do have some photos of that cemetery, which I'll have to sort out.
English, New Zealanders, Canadians, Christians, Muslims and Jews..
Most of the streets in that area are named after British Literary greats..
Excuse me being slightly off theme.
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Permalink Reply by Angela on
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As I'm sure Lesley, and others will know, William Cecil Tickle was another local boy soldier who was killed in action during World War One. He was born in Tottenham in 1898 and died on 3rd July 2016.
Apologies for the Daily Express link - it was the best one I could find!
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