Born at Wymondham, near Norwich, Norfolk.
According to his attestation papers, John Howes was born in "Windham", the Recruiting Sergeant probably writing down the name as it is locally pronounced.
His mother was an Elizabeth Howes, but she did not marry his (presumed) father until the 13th of March 1829. He was baptised in Wymondham Abbey Church on the 5th of July 1829, the entry of baptism showing him as being the son of Dives Blazey, a weaver, and Elizabeth Howes.
The Blazey and Howes families were both weavers, of which there was a large community in Wymondham at that time. It is assumed that he did not like the name of Blazey and enlisted under his mother's name of Howes.
Enlisted at Manchester on the 16th of November 1846.
Age: 18 years 4 months.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Grocer.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Hazel eyes. Dk. brown hair.
From Private to Corporal: 12th of August 1848.
Corporal to Sergeant: 9th of May 1853.
He was slightly wounded in action at Balaclava, where he assisted Cornet Hunt in an attempt to bring away a Russian gun and was believed to have been the last man to get back to the English lines.
He later told Sergeant Major George Smith in response to his enquiry:
"I was the left hand man of the regiment. When we reached the end of the Charge, I found myself amongst the Russian guns. — a few of our troop, including our Troop Sergeant Major, Herbert (who was killed) surrounded one of the guns. He dismounted with the idea of cutting the traces.
We killed all the men belonging to the said gun, and I went to the leading horses and turned their heads around with the view of bringing the gun away but finding it impossible, so I left them. I did not at this time see either Lord Page or Colonel Douglas.
We now received the order to retire. The next thing I recollect, we were cutting our way through the Lancers. I received a slight sword cut on the ear. A Russian horse now came galloping alongside me, which brought me back and I sold the next day for £5. I still have the pistol, the only relic I have kept out of the kit I found on the horse."
Appointed to Troop Sergeant Major on the 1st of October 1857.
Discharged from Dublin on the 3rd of November 1860:
"At his own request, having claimed his right of registry for a deferred pension of 4d. per day upon reaching the age of 50 years."
Conduct: "a good soldier".
In possession of one Good Conduct badge when promoted to the rank of Sergeant
Never entered in the Regimental Defaulter's book. Never tried by Court-martial.
Aged 32 years 9 months on discharge.
He intended to live at 6, Smallbrook Street, Birmingham.
Deferred pension documents sent to the Birmingham District Pension's Office on the 26th of February 1878.
He was granted a deferred pension of 4d. per day upon reaching the age of 50 years on the 5th of February 1878. His address at this time was given as No. 2 Jamaica Road, Birmingham.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, and Sebastopol.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Turkish medals.
Attended the first Balaclava Banquet in 1875.
Member of the Balaclava Commemoration Society in 1879.
Signed the Loyal Address to the Queen in 1887.
He was at one time the Hon. Treasurer of the Birmingham Military Veteran's Association, of which he was a founder-member.
1881 Census
2, Jamaica Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire.
The 1881 Census shows him as a Shoe Manufacturer, aged 52, born at Wymondham, Norfolk, with his wife, Fanny, 36, born at Coleshill, Warwickshire, and one son, Edgar, 12, a Scholar.
In 1895, he was photographed with Sergeant Parkinson, 11th Hussars, and Troop Sergeant Major Hughes, 13th Light Dragoons. This appeared in the Tradition Magazine, Number 31. (There is a copy in the 4th Hussar file.)
He is said to have been present, along with a number of other Chargers, at the funeral of 476 John Brown, 17th Lancers, in Lichfield in 1898.
Died on the 25th of December 1902.
He died at his home address, 23, Spring Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, and was buried in Grave No. B4-63 in the Lodge Hill Cemetery, Woodley Park, Birmingham, (Selly Oak).
The granite gravestone bears the inscription:
In loving memory of John Howes, late Troop Sergeant Major, 4th Light Dragoons, and "One of the Six Hundred."
Died December 25th 1902, aged 73.
Also of John Victor Howes — Died February 1st, 1899, aged 16 months. Also, Fanny, the beloved wife of the above John Howes, who died December 26th 1915, aged 69. Also of Lilah, beloved wife of Edgar Howes, who died 7th of March 1915, aged 39 years. Also of Edgar Howes, the son of John Howes, who died on the 14th of 0ctober 1940, aged 77 years, and whose ashes are interred in the grave.
There is a photograph of this stone in the 4th Hussar file.
See also two photographs, one in civilian clothes and the other in uniform (the latter appearing in the Picture Magazine about the mid-1890s) and the obituary and funeral reports taken from the Birmingham Daily Post for the 26th of December 1902.
An article on John Howes by Canon Lummis appeared in the Eastern Daily Press for the 1st of December 1975.
(Copies of all of these may be found in the 4th Hussar file.)
Extract from the Birmingham Gazette, 27th of December 1902:
Balaclava Veteran joins the Majority.
The famous quartet of survivors of the Light Brigade which Birmingham has ever held in honour and esteem is reduced. Christmas Day was barely an hour old when it robbed the city of Sergeant Major Hughes [sic? not Howes?], truly a veteran. He weathered many storms and attained the age of seventy-four years, but it was a simple cold which led to his death.
He caught a chill when returning in the night air from the annual dinner of the veterans held on Thursday of last week, but as recently as Monday last his tall soldierly figure was out and about as usual. But the following day he was forced to take to his bed. Acute pneumonia laid him low and led yesterday to a fatal termination.
He had in the city three comrades who went through that awful experience with him — Sergeant Major Hughes, Sgt Major Parkinson and Private Alexander, a honoured trio which still survives. One of his greatest treasures was an old pistol which he had wrested from a Russian soldier as he fought his way through shot and shell. He was held in the highest esteem by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Of course, arrangements will be made for a funeral with full military honours."
Sometime in 1999 a collection of letters which he had written to family, friends or acquaintances were sold by auction in the USA. It seems they had been in a garage for over twenty years, having been brought from London by a dealer in manuscripts, etc, who had emigrated to America.
Only one of the letters bears any reference to the battles there, though (the rest being of descriptions of the area and conditions which had to be endured):
"Sebastopol 8th Nov. 1854.
Dear Sir,
I have embraced this favourable opportunity of addressing you a few lines to you in hope they will find you in good health as I thank God it leaves me at present.
I wrote two letters to you previous to my being hurried from England much against my will as I will leave you to judge. The letter I wrote to you was a request that you would allow me to send a small box for you to keep until I return to England if I should be spared the diseases of the country and the swords and balls of our enemys [sic] and I can assure that they are both very numerous.
I have not the time to give you the particulars in full but I will do my best in as few words as possible.
We sailed from England on the 19th July and landed at Varna on the 2nd August after a pleasant voyage and fine weather. We left Varna again on the 4th September until we reached the enemys shore were we landed on the 16th September without any opposition until we arrived at the Alma: where a strong force of Russians held a most formidable position and had calculated on keeping it for about six weeks but found their mistake.
Our army took the place in 3 hours but with a great loss on both sides. It was a horrid sight the next morning to see the dead and dying lying in great heaps both our men and the Russian side by side where they fell to hand. We remained there two days to get the wounded on board ship and the dead buried.
We then pushed on towards Sebastopol where we arrived about the 24th and commenced preparations for the siege which commenced on the 17th October and they are hard at up to the present time.
The Russians made an attack upon our rear on the 25th when the whole of the cavalry were brought into action. The heavy cavalry charged the enemy and drove them back into a very strong position were [sic] they reformed on each side of a valley with guns and infantry and a line of guns direct to our front. An order came that the light cavalry were to charge at any sacrifice.
We advanced down the valley, 5 Regiments amidst the dreadful fire of about 80 guns and the balls of 2000 infantry. We soon silenced the cannon that played upon our front and cut every one of their gunners to pieces. We then followed their cavalry about half a mile until we came to the end of the valley and out of 5 Regiments we could only collect about 90 men.
We were going to retire when to our surprise a Regiment of Lancers had formed behind us, but we gave a cheer and cut our way back through them and it was every man for himself.
We lost a great many going back as we had to pass through the gallery fire of guns and infantry on our right and left. I escaped with a slight sword cut on the right ear, The blow was directed at my neck but I warded it off with my own sword. My horse failed through fatigue and I was surrounded by 7 or 8 twice, but God protected me and guarded me safe.
We have had another general engagement which commenced on the morning of the 5th Nov. The Russians commenced with a force of about 100 to every 1st of ours but they were completely beaten after a fight of 8 hours. The loss of ours is supposed to be about 3,000 and the Russians 11 or 12,000. They are lying in heaps upon the field for miles, but I am thankful to say that I have escaped again.
You will oblige me very much if you will write to Wm. for me to say I am well alive and if I fall in the field he must apply to the regiment for any money that may be coming to me and what ever marks of distinction either a medal, or anything else. He can get it by applying for it.
I have also a few pounds by me at the present time but I have no means of sending it to you or I would do so as it is uncertain whether you will get this. But if you will have the kindness to return an answer to this as soon as possible. If I am alive. I shall know better what to do, I must I must conclude hoping to hear soon from you.
I remain, yours truly,
J. Howes."
[PB, Feb 2014: it would be worth checking this transcript against the original.]
(See copies of the remander of the letters in the 4th Hussar files.)
__________
[PB, 26.10.14: There are a number of references to John Howes online, including two on a Howes Family genealogical site, that may contain additional information:
- http://www.howesfamilies.com/people.php?id=5
- http://www.howesfamilies.com/getperson.php?personID=I7773&tree=Onename (accessed 26.10.14) ]