Howe, Alex Wilkinson
3291 Private Alex Wilkinson Howe - 44th Battalion AIF
Alex was born on the 2nd March 1888 in Albany WA to Thomas and Catherine Howe, being one of eight siblings.
The family then moved up to North Fremantle where they took up residence at John St North Fremantle. Alex was working locally as a labourer. On the 22nd July 1912 Alex married Annie Veronica Lafferty in Fremantle and a daughter Catherine was born in 1912 and Mary born in 1913.
Alex had begun serving in the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery around 1912 at the Fremantle Artillery Barracks. After the marriage Alex and Annie moved to 105 Duke St East Fremantle. (later renumbered to 41 Duke). Annie then moved to the corner of George and Sewell Street East Fremantle once Alex had enlisted.
Alex had tried to enlist earlier in the war, but as he had been serving in the 11th Australian Garrison Artillery, these men were needed to man the forts around Fremantle Harbour when the permanent artillerymen were sent overseas in 1915. So it was not until 1917 that Alex was able to enlist.
On the 15th February 1917 he went to the recruitment office in Fremantle and was accepted for service into the Australian Imperial Force. the medical officer recorded Alex's physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 & 1/4 inches tall;
Weight - 138lbs;
Chest Measurement - 36-38 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Hazel;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Alex was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to a training depot. Alex had a week of being taken through the basics of infantry work and then on the 27th February 1917 hew as assigned to the 8th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion AIF.
He trained with this group in WA for the next few months. On the 29th June 1917 Alex and his reinforcement group were entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Borda and set ail for England, arriving at Plymouth on the 25th August 1917.
After being disembarked Alex and his group were sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Larkhill Camp on the Salisbury Plains. On the 5th November 1917 hew as then transferred to the 10th Training Battalion at Sutton Mandeville Camp. On the 18th December 1917 Alex proceeded to France, where upon arrival he was sent to the Australian Infantry Base Depot at Rouelles. He only had a few days here and was taken on strength of the 44th Battalion on the 24th December 1917.
From December 1917 to March 1918 the 44th Battalion held the line in Belgium south east of Ypres between Hollebeke and Messines. As a result of the German offensive on March 21st 1918 which broke through the British front line further south, the Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop the German advance. The 44th Battalion were sent to an area near the Somme River at Sailly-le-Sec and Sailly Laurette. The 44th Battalion advanced till they met the Germans in the field near Sailly Laurette and though the German fire stopped the 44th from advancing, the Germans were also stopped.
Alex and the 44th Battalion were in this sector for the next few months. On the 4th July 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful capture of Hamel village. Alex came through this action unscathed.
On the 8th August 1918 the 44th Battalion took part in the successful advance from the Villers-Bretonneux front and they took their objectives. The 44th Battalion advanced continually for the next several weeks, seeing action around Bray, Clery and Peronne. By the 29th September 1918 the 44th Battalion were at the Hindenburg Line defences. The 44th Battalion was involved in the attack in the Hindenburg Line for the next few days but again Alex came through safely.
The 44th Battalion were then withdrawn for a rest period and they were still out of the line when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
When the Germans withdrew to behind their own borders, the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. Alex was given a two week furlough to England on the 24th November 1918, returning to his unit in France on the 12th December 1918
Alex remained with the 44th Battalion for the next few months, leaving France on the 28th April 1919. On arrival in England, Alex was sent to No.3 Group camp at Codford. He would remain here while waiting to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 21st June 1919 Alex boarded the ship Kongin Louise and set sail for Australia, arriving at Fremantle on the 3rd August 1919. Alex was then discharged from the AIF on the 2nd September 1919.
On his return the family were living at 134 Sewell St East Fremantle (later renumbered to 64 Sewell). In the mid 1920's the family moved to Bunbury where they remained through to the 1960's
Alex died in Perth on the 28th November 1962 aged 74. Alex was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Presbyterian MON EE 0799.