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Sgt. Howard Alexander "Alec" Fagan MM, MiD.
British Army 1st/16th (Queens Westminster Rifles) Btn. London Regiment
from:2 Briarwood Red, Clapham, London
(d.21st Jul 1916)
Howard Fagan, my great uncle, joined the Queens Westminster Rifles a Territorial Army Battalion on leaving school whilst still 15 years old in 1913. The 1st Battalion of the QWRs was sent to France in November 1914 and fought in Flanders, firstly near Armentieres, then in 1915 in the Ypres Salient. In the Spring of 1916, the 56th London Division was formed and pulled out of the front line for extensive training before the attack on Gommecourt on the 1st of July 1916, part of the Somme campaign. Alec was badly wounded in that disastrous attack, probably by machine gun fire but made it to the No.16 General Hospital near Le Tréport where his parents were able to visit him. Sadly Alec died on the 21st July a week before his 19th birthday.
In his brief Amy career, Alec was awarded the Military Medal for gallant service in the Ypres Salient, was mentioned in dispatches by General Haig and was promoted three times from rifleman to Sergeant, but he turned down a commission. His letters home show him to be a loving son and brother and he made light of the horrors of trench warfare. All in all, he was like many young London office boys who served his country valiantly when the time came, and he proved himself a brave and outstanding rifleman and a hero to his family.
