Ernest Henry Howe (1899-1964)
Joiner from Sacriston served in the Royal Naval Air Service
Ernest Henry Howe was born on 20-Nov-1899 in Sacriston. His father was George Henry Howe (1868-1941), a coal miner, originally from Devon. His mother was Bessie Mumford (1873-1939) who was also originally from Devon and whose father moved to Durham to work in coal mining. Ernest’s parents married in 1894 and he had two brothers (Samuel, b.1898, George Robert, b.1903) and three sisters (Lenora May, b. 1897, Lily b.1906, Leslie, b.1910). At the time of the 1901 census Ernest and his family lived at 263 Eighth Street, Sacriston and at the 1911 census were at 15 Victoria Street, Sacriston.
Ernest joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) at the age of 18 years on 13-Dec-1917; he was working as a Joiner when he enlisted. He was given the service number F43629, the rank of Aircraftman 2nd grade and the trade of carpenter. He spent his first two days at Crystal Palace, followed by a month at Tregantle in Cornwall and a month at Chingford, just north of London. At this point, in February 1918, Ernest appears to have returned to Crystal Palace for a month’s training, at the end of which, he became an Air Mechanic 2nd class and was posted to Portsmouth.
Ernest was serving on 01-Apr-1918 when the Royal Air Force (RAF) was formed by bringing together the RNAS and Royal Flying Corps into a unified air service. For Ernest this meant an updated service number of 243629 and the rank of Air Mechanic 3rd class, his equivalent rank in the new service. He was posted to Calshot, near Southampton, which was the main seaplane and flying boat development and training unit in the UK. Ernest served in the RAF until 26-Jan-1919 when he was transferred from active service to the RAF G Reserve.
Ernest returned to his parents home which by now was in Findon Hill. In 1926 he married Doris Thompson (1908-1995) and they are recorded as living in Bishop Auckland at the time of the 1939 register. On Ernest’s probate record, when he died on 06-Aug-1964, they were living at 43 Fore Bondgate.
Ernest Henry Howe was awarded the British War Medal for his service during the First World War.
Civil Parish: Witton Gilbert
Birth date: 20-Nov-1899
Death date: 06-Aug-1964
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 263 Eighth Street, Sacriston (1901 census)
15 Victoria Street, Sacriston (1911 census)
Findon Hill, Sacriston, (1919 RAF service record)
43 Fore Bondgate, Bishop Auckland (1964 Probate Record)
Employment: Joiner
Family: Father: George Henry Howe (1868-1941)
Mother: Bessie Mumford (1873-1939)
Siblings: Lenora May, b. 1897, Samuel, b.1898 George Robert, b.1903 , Lily b.1906, Leslie, b.1910
Wife: Doris Thompson (1908-1995), m.1926
Military service:
Enlisted in Royal Naval Air Service, F43629, Aircraftman 2nd grade, 13-Dec-1917
Air Mechanic 2nd class , 02-Mar-1918
Transferred to Royal Air Force, 243629, Air Mechanic 3rd class, 01-Apr-1918
Discharged to RAF G Reserve 26-Jan-1919
Medal(s): British War Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
