17 January 2023
WW1 remains identified as Canadian Corporal Percy Howarth
The remains of Corporal Percy Howarth of the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force) have been formally identified by the Canadian Armed Forces Casualty Identification Program.
Corporal Howarth's whistle and pocket watch shown as recovered and later restored by CWGC's Christian Cousin.
Corporal Howarth was reported missing, later presumed dead on 15 August 1917 in the Battle of Hill 70 near Lens, France, aged 23. The Battle lasted 10 days with more than 10,000 Canadians killed, wounded or missing in which 140 of Corporal Howarth’s Battalion were killed.
Percy Howarth was born on 15 August 1894 in Darwen, Lancashire, England to Richard and Margaret Howarth and seven siblings. He emigrated to Canada in 1912 working as a seaman in Vancouver, British Colombia before enlisting with the 121st ‘Overseas’ Battalion, CEF on 19 July 1916.
Arriving at Liverpool, England on 24 August 1916, Private Howarth joined the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, CEF, undergoing training and eventually joining his unit in France on 29 November 1916. While in France he was hospitalised with influenza for a week and was promoted to Lance Corporal in May 1917.
His Battalion was in the second wave at the Battle of Hill 70 on 15th August 1917 where he was reported missing, presumed dead and as such his name was added to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial to the missing after the First World War.
During munitions clearing at a construction site in Vendin-le-Vieil, France on June 9th 2011, human remains and artefacts including a digging tool, whistle and pocket watch were discovered.
Through painstaking research and DNA analysis, with help from the Canadian Forces Forensic Odontology Response Team and Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Casualty Identification Review Board confirmed the remains as those of Corporal Howarth in October 2021.
Corporal Howarth will be buried at the earliest opportunity in CWGC Loos British Cemetery, Loos-en-Gohelle, France and his grave marked by a newly-engraved CWGC headstone.
The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence said:
"Time and distance do not diminish the courage Corporal Howarth brought to the battlefield in service to Canada. His family should trust that I and all Canadians will remember the ultimate sacrifice he made. Lest we forget.”
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence said:
"Nearly 10,000 Canadians were killed, wounded or declared missing in the Battle of Hill 70, Corporal Howarth among them. Now, more than 100 years later we remember Corporal Howarth’s selfless courage and sacrifice in the name of duty and that of all his comrades.”