Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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9607   Drummer Gilbert Alexander Howard
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 20/05/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 1st Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 28/04/1892
Died: 08/06/1915 (Died of Wounds)
Age: 23
Summary      
Gilbert Alexander Howard was the son of John and Mary Howard. The family lived in Eskermore, Augher, County Tyrone. Gilbert was born on 28th April 1892. His father died when he was eight. Gilbert enlisted in Omagh around 1909. Drummer Gilbert Alexander Howard was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was injured at Gallipoli and died of wounds in Egypt on 8th June 1915, age 23.
Further Information
Gilbert Alexander Howard was the son of John and Mary Howard. John Howard and Mary Boyd were married on 23rd August 1888 in the district of Dungannon.
Gilbert Alexander Howard was born on 28th April 1892 in Augher, Tyrone. He was the second of five children.
Family: John Howard, Mary Jane Howard, William J Howard (born 27th April 1890), Gilbert Alexander Howard (born 28th April 1892), John Howard (born 7th August 1894), Frederick A Howard (born 23rd September 1897), Joseph Howard (born 22nd September 1900).
Gilbert’s father, John Howard, died on 16th November 1900 in the Clogher area, aged 52. Gilbert was eight years old.
The 1901 census shows Gilbert as an 8 year old schoolboy. His mother was a widow. The family was living in Eskermore, Cecil, County Tyrone.
Gilbert Alexander Howard enlisted in Omagh around 1909.
He saw service in China and India prior to the war.
Gilbert’s mother moved to Scotland She lived at Clydesdale Road, New Stevenston in Lanarkshire.
Medal card
Drummer Gilbert Howard arrived in the Balkans with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers on 17th March 1915.
Drummer Howard was with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he took part in the landing operations at Gallipoli and sustained wounds.
Drummer Gilbert Alexander Howard died of his wounds in Egypt on 8th June 1915.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 15th February 1916:
Drummer G A Howard, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who has been killed in action, was a son of the late Mr John Howard, Eskermore, Augher.
From the Glasgow Herald dated 30th June 1915:
Drummer Gilbert A Howard, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, whose parents reside at ???dale, Clydesdale Road, New Stevenston, is officially reported as having died from wounds. He was 25 years of age, and had been in the regular forces for a period of six years, during which he saw service in China and India. He took part in the landing operations at Gallipoli and sustained wounds to which he succumbed on 16th June.
Drummer Gilbert Alexander Howard is buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery in Greece.
Drummer Gilbert Alexander Howard is commemorated locally on Clogher War Memorial.
Drummer Gilbert Howard is also commemorated on the New Stevenston War Memorial in Lanarkshire, Scotland.
The CWGC record Drummer Gilbert Alexander Howard as the son of John and Mary Jane Howard of Eskermore, Augher, County Tyrone
Read more
Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Eskermore, Cecil Augher Census listing in Eskermore, Cecil 54.456169 -7.138224
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
23/08/1888 M Boyd Mary Parent M/1888/T1/1443/2/53
23/08/1888 M Howard John Parent M/1888/T1/1443/2/53
27/04/1890 B Howard William Sibling U/1890/107/1026/10/37
28/04/1892 B Howard Gilbert Casualty U/1892/107/1026/10/273
07/08/1894 B Howard John Sibling U/1894/107/1026/11/45
23/09/1897 B Howard Frederick Sibling U/1897/107/1026/11/367
22/09/1900 B Howard Joseph Sibling U/1900/107/1026/12/164
16/11/1900 D Howard John Parent D/1900/107/1026/11/210 died age 52
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Howard family Lists Gilbert A as age 8 living with the family at house 9 in Eskermore, Cecil, Tyrone
2 Forum Discussion (SMRG) Details of Drummer G A Howard's death
3 Imperial War Museum Gibert Howard listed on New Stevenston War Memorial
4 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
5 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Drummer G A Howard's grave can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023