Major Frank Eggleton, Royal Field Artillery
His battery took part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres better known as Passchendaele. The Battle lasted from July 1917 until November, but the main offensive began on the 12th October to gain the high ground. The weather was very wet indeed and the whole offensive movements were impeded by deep mud, allied troops were mown down by German machine guns because they were unable to advance. This battle was described as a wasteful disaster.During this time Frank had gone forward to the guns to attend to an officer who had been wounded. On the way back, he stepped aside to let the stretcher pass him and while he was waiting, he was hit by a large piece of exploding shell in his back which entered his spine. A fellow officer with him reported that “he immediately became unconscious and died a few minutes later”. He died on 21st of October 1917 aged just 31. It was reported in the John Hampden Grammar School, High Wycombe obituary that a 2nd Lieutenant in his battalion wrote that he was ‘so loved and respected by all’. He was buried in Canada Farm Cemetery.
Frank is remembered on the High Wycombe Hospital memorial as well as on the Chinnor Memorial. He was reported to be very popular for his kind acts. He had requested that better socks for his men should be found and contacted friends in High Wycombe by letter to arrange for them to be knitted and sent out to the battlefield. We have not yet discovered whether the socks actually arrived there to be used.
Lance Corporal Alfred Howlett, B.company Hampshire Regiment
Alfred’s battalion was deployed in The Ypres Salient during August 1916. They held this area to stop the German race to the sea which was largely successful but caused a massive loss of life. There are many War Grave cemeteries in this area which reflects the enormous loss of life. There were major battles in the salient throughout the duration of the war, Alfred arrived there in August 1916 following the 2nd Battle of Ypres where poison gas had been used for the first time.By the time he reached Ypres, Alfred had been promoted the rank of Lance Corporal. Sadly, for Alfred he would not progress any higher because he was a victim of the havoc wreaked by this gas. He was wounded during a gas attack and enemy fire on the 9th August 1916 along with 150 others, a further 100 other ranks from his battalion were wounded that day.
Records show that he was injured and taken to a Belgian field hospital where, sadly, he died of his wounds on 10th August 1916. He is buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium, just South of Ypres. The Battalion’s war diary tells the story of his last 10 days which is available on our website with the full story.
Private Aubrey John Howlett, Royal Naval Light Infantry, 1st R.M. Bn. R.N. division.
Aubrey had reached the Somme in late August 1918 and his battalion was immediately involved in fierce fighting in the area of Cambrai with some successful results. By Friday 27th September they secured the capture of Anneaux using large Howitzers. 61 marines lost their lives that day. The following day, Royal Marine Artillery siege battery was brought in as reinforcements to support the 63rd Division with a rail mounted gun. 25 Royal Marines were killed, one of which was Aubrey. This was not too far from where his brother Alfred’s battalion was fighting two years previously en-route to Ypres. Aubrey’s active service lasted less than 2 months.He is buried in the Sucrerie British Cemetery at Graincourt- Les- Havrincourt, a small cemetery with only 60 Commonwealth graves in open countryside between Cambrai and Bapaume in the area of the Somme.
With the passing of Aubrey, our research suggests that this was the end of the male line of this branch of the Howlett family as they only left sisters. We would love to hear from you if you know differently!
If you are passing by the Chinnor War Memorial please pause and spare a thought for these three, forever young, men, and all of the others who died fighting for their country.
More details of these three young men will be found on our website at www.greeningchinnor.blogspot.org. If you can add to any of this or if you are a relative of any of these soldiers please contact us at greeningchinnor@gmail.com or Carol Stewart on 07764452777
Carol Stewart Nov 2021
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