210066 A/Cpl. James Stanley Howard British Army 1/6th Btn Cheshire Regiment from:Stockport My grandfather James Howard enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment Army Reserve on 13 Dec 1909. Between that date and the outbreak of the First World War he attended various annual training camps, during one of which he was promoted to lance corporal on 20 May 1914. He was mobilized into 1st Battalion on 5 Aug 1914 and promoted to acting corporal on 3 October 1914. Shortly after arriving in France he was captured at a place called Violaines, near La Basse and was confirmed as a POW on 22nd Oct 1914.
Details of his units capture can be found in "The History of the Great War" by Arthur Crookenden (Col. of Rgt.) pages 28 & 29.
He spent the remainder of the war in various Prison of War camps as listed below. The dates and places were supplied by the International Red Cross Committee:
16 Jan 1915 Wahn, 19 Jul 1916 Merseberg, 4 Sep 1916 Wittenberg, 25 Jan 1917 AltenGrabow, still there on 10 Feb 1917, 21 Mar 1917 Magdeburg/Sud (IRCC quote 'Hilfskrkanst' as part of the camp name)
Detailed as arriving in England on 18 Nov 1918 on the SS "Willochra" on an undated list.
Having returned to England he was transferred to Army Reserve on 18 Feb 1919 and then discharged from the Army on 31 Mar 1920. Having experienced the conditions of the Prisoner of War camps one would expect him to have settled for a civilian existence but he re-enlisted into Section D, Army Reserve at Chester on 28 Mar 1922 with Army number 4118343, rank - Private.
He was finally discharged on 27 Mar 1926.
He re-enlisted yet again into the Territorial Army (Royal Artillery) with No. 4118343) on 27 Oct 1938.
Embodied 25 Jun 1939, Disembodied 20 Jul 1939, Embodied 24 Aug 1939. Transferred to Cheshire Regiment and posted to 8th Home Counties Defence Battalion 24 Jul 1940 (late redesignated 30th Battalion).
Posted to No. 2 Company 27 Jun 1942.
Attached to G setion, 165 Provost Company as Cook 17 Nov 1942.
Attachment ceased 28 Sep 1943
Posted to 2nd Battalion 2 Feb 1944
Posted to 38 Reinforcement Holding Unit 5 Apr 1944
Posted to 35 Reinforcement Holding Unit 12 Apr 1944
Posted to 24 Machine Gun Training Centre 30 Apr 1944
Posted to No. 4 Army Selection Centre 14 Aug 1944
Discharged again on 27 Aug 1944 as his services were no longer required.
Having survived through two wars he passed away on 5 Feb 1966 as a result of being hit by a car whilst crossing the road.
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