Arthur Lester Alexander HOWES
Year of Birth: 1908
Place of Birth: Five Dock, New South Wales, Australia
Date of Enlistment: 30 May 1940, Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
Australian Defence Force: Australian Imperial Force
Rank: Private
Unit(s): 2/17 Battalion Australian Infantry
Service Number: NX23182
Died: 31 December 1944
Age: 36 years
Buried: Cairns War Cemetery – Plot A – Row C – Grave 8
Arthur Lester Alexander Howes was born 20 August 1908 in Five Dock, New South Wales to John Alexander and Eliza Ann (Wilson) Howes. His known siblings were Sarah E Howes born 1910, Henry W Howes, 1914 and Edith M Howes born 1921.
In the 1930 Electoral Roll for West Sydney, Arthur is listed with his mother Eliza at Bulwarra Road and his occupation a labourer.
He enlisted 30 May 1940 at Alexandria, New South Wales and gave his father John as his next of kin.
The 2/17 Battalion was involved in a general withdrawal of British forces to Tobruk. They held against German tanks and remained in position with engaging enemy infantry. They also served in Lae. At the time of Arthur’s death, he was stationed on the Atherton Tablelands for training.
Private Arthur Howes died from illness.
Arthur Lester Alexander Howes’s name is on Alexandra Roll of Honour board and also located at panel 40 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial.
Online Resources
NAA: B883, (HOWES Arthur Lester Alexander) National Archives of Australia
Department Veterans’ Affairs Nominal Rolls
National Library of Australia: Trove Digitised Newspapers
Queensland Births Deaths and Marriages Historical Index
New South Wales Births Deaths and Marriages Index
Australian Electoral Rolls: Ancestry
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