Sergeant Richard Colvin Howson

776085

Born Teeswater, ON 1890

Lived in Toronto, ON

Killed in Action – August 27, 1917 - Hill 70

Sergeant Howson was a tall, fit former member of the 36th Peel Regiment before he enlisted with the regional 126th Peel OS Battalion (aka Lorne Scots of Dufferin, Peel and Halton Regiment) in the summer of 1916. Richard was born in a blink of a town called Teeswater situated in Western Ontario. It was here where his father owned the town’s flour mill. The family moved to the nearby town of Wingham later in his youth (not as small, maybe two blinks?) From their comparatively sleepy rural surroundings, Richard and his younger brother George moved to Toronto to seek their success.

As close as brothers are, the pair both signed up with the 126th, George first, followed by Richard. At time of his enlistment, Richard was building a very promising career in business. His first key position was at the Commerce Bank of Canada (now Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) followed up by assuming a branch manager for Commercial Press (a publishing company) in Montreal. While he secured a commission as Lieutenant in Canada, he reverted to Sergeant once the battalion arrived in England. George served as a Corporal in the 126th and proceeded to serve as an officer in the 116th as well.

The men of the 126th Peel Battalion were absorbed into the 116th in October 1916. The combined battalion proceeded to France on Feb 11th, 1917. Howson’s record demonstrates that he led his squad into the field on the 22nd of August. This was one week into the diversionary exercise against the German divisions holding the ground around Lens in an area now known as Hill 70. It was on their first day in relief of the 27th Battalion when Sergeant Richard Howson was hit by enemy artillery. Him and two other privates, Oliver Arnold and Howard Kemp were killed in action.

Lest we forget.