HOWFIELD, John arthur

“MERTHYR MILITARY CROSS WINNER KILLED WHILST ON PATROL AT MORY”

Lieutenant John Arthur Howfield (MC), 75th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

Killed in Action on 1st September 1918, age 20.

John was born in Merthyr in late 1897. Arthur J Howfield (John’s father) ran the well known bakery & confectioners of ‘Howfield & Sons’, which was situated at 42 High Street, Merthyr.

At some point after 1911, the family moved to Vaynor House, which was subsequently demolished for the Trefechan Housing estate.

John was educated at Merthyr Intermediate School and the Royal Grammar School, Worcester. Following this, he entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in June 1916, and passed out in April 1917 before proceeding to the Front Line.

The London Gazette of 18th April 1918, records the following action relating to the award of the Military Cross.I cannot pinpoint the date exactly, but believe this was for actions in mid 1917.

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Under heavy shell fire he attended to the casualties that occured at the ammunition dump of which he was in charge and succeeded in getting the men under cover of a building, when the building was set on fire by a german shell. At great personal risk, he dashed into the building and rescued a man whose clothes had been set on fire. He has always set a fine example of cheerfullnessand courage under all conditions.”

The following is taken from the war diary on 1st September 1918, where the 75th Brigade were stationed at MORY;

“At 6am we attacked & captured our objectives ie LONGATTE TRENCH & NOREUIL SWITCH together with prisoners & Machine Guns. Enemy artillery put down a heavy barrage & his machine guns were again troublesome. 2 Lieut J A Howfield was killed about 10am whilst out on patrol.”

John is one of only six Military Cross winners from Merthyr.

Buried at Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, France & commemorated on the Cefn Coed War Memorial.

Son of Arthur J Howfield, Vaynor House, Merthyr.