The Great War: Five Coventry brothers who all returned home

[dutchman]

Joseph Howe was one of five brothers who served King and Country - with all five returning home to their family.


Back left to right: Wiiliam Howe, Harry Howe, Joseph Howe (Mabel's father), front L-R Fred Howe, William Howe (Mabel's grandfather), Jim Howe.

The Coventry lads, who lived in East Street, Hillfields, were among the thousands of men from the city who went off to war between 1914 and 1918.

Joseph’s daughter Mabel Cronin says that her father was 19 when the war broke out and he and his four siblings - William, Fred, Harry and Jim - all signed up to serve in the army.

And although all five did return home from the conflict, whereas so many families lost loved ones and friends, her father didn’t come back completely unscathed.

Mabel, 86, who lives in Earlsdon, said: “My dad went to action first as he was already in Malta in 1914 and then he went to France.

“He was wounded after getting shot in the leg - the bullet went through one side of his calf and out the other.

“He came back to the hospital at Brands Hatch and the lady there would take the wounded for a drive around the track.”

As a memento of her father’s time at war, Mabel still proudly owns a tin that was sent to Joseph by Princess Mary, which would have contained some toffees, and also a tin of sweets from Cadbury which was sent to aid him through his recovery after he was wounded.

And it was after his recovery that Joseph, who died on December 21, 1966, returned to service on British soil and met his wife-to-be.

Mabel said: “After he was wounded dad went to the Isle of Wight and there he met my mum Flora - but he nearly shot her!

“She and some friends got to know some of the soldiers on the Isle of Wight. Then one night my dad was on duty and he told them to halt.

“He was being funny and told them three times to halt and if they didn’t he would shoot them!

“He didn’t and they eventually got married in 1919.”

Mabel was one of three children that the couple had along with her sister Vera and brother Len, both who have passed away now.

Another keepsake still in Mabel’s possession is a letter that was sent to the father of the five brothers, William Howe snr, on behalf of the King, George V, which was written on October 5, 1915.

It read: “I have the honour of to inform you that The King has heard with much interest that you have at the present moment five sons and two son-in-laws serving in the army.

“I am commanded to express to you The King’s congratulations and to assure you that His Majesty much appreciates the spirit of patriotism which prompted this example, in one family, of loyalty and devotion to their Sovereign and Empire.”

Mabel said that both of the son-in-laws - one of whom was called Lucas - died while in action.