John Howat

Killed in Action on the 09/05/1915 on the opening day of the Battle of Aubers

The 1st (Lowland) Field Company were part of the 1st Division. John arrived in France on the 16/12/1914. John was Killed in Action on the 1st day of the unsuccessful British offensive at Aubers on the 9th - 10th May 1915 : the Battle of Aubers was a disastrous attack that cost 11,000 British casualties for no material gain : it was a minor supporting operation to a much larger French attack in an action known as the Second Battle of Artois. 17 other men from the Memorial fell here on this day. On the 9th May : the Southern pincer. At 5.00a.m : British bombardment opens with field guns firing shrapnel at the German wire and howitzers firing High Explosive shells onto front line. German troops are seen peering above their parapet even while this shelling was going on. At 5.30a.m : British bombardment intensifies, field guns switch to High Explosives and also fire at breastworks. The lead battalions of the two assaulting Brigades of 1st Division go over the top to take up a position only 80 yards from German front. At 5.40a.m : British bombardment lifts off front lines and advances 600 yards; infantry assault begins. Despite the early losses and enemy fire the three Brigades attempted to advance across No Man's Land. They were met by intense crossfire from the German machine-guns, which could not be seen in their ground-level and strongly protected emplacements. Whole lines of men were seen to be hit. Few lanes had been cut in the wire and even where men reached it they were forced to bunch, forming good targets for the enemy gunners. The leading battalions suffered very significant losses, particularly among officers and junior leaders. Around 100 men on the Northants and Munsters got into the German front, but all were killed or captured. The advance of the supporting battalions suffered similarly, and by 6.00am the advance had halted, with hundreds of men pinned down in No Man's Land, unable to advance or fall back. At 7.20a.m : Major-General Haking (CO, 1st Division) reports failure and asks if he should bring in his last Brigade (1st (Guards)). He offered his opinion that it would not be successful. The new attack at 2.40p.m would again be preceded by a 40 minute bombardment. The various movements of relief forces were achieved only with much confusion and further losses under renewed enemy shellfire. The time was again moved, to 4.00p.m. More than 11,000 British casualties were sustained on 9 May 1915, the vast majority within yards of their own front-line trench. Mile for mile, Division for Division, this was one of the highest rates of loss during the entire war. This battle was an unmitigated disaster for the British army. No ground was won and no tactical advantage gained. It is very doubtful if it had the slightest positive effect on assisting the main French attack fifteen miles to the south. 1st Division casualties : 3,968 of which 160 Officers. John is listed as CORPORAL on the Coatbridge Memorial. He is also remembered on the Coats Parish Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, a photos of John's Parents, the 1911 Census, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Le Touret Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his name on the Le Touret Memorial, John's Pension Records x 3, the Royal Engineers Cap Badge and his Service Records x 12. Finally, SEE PHOTOS x 36 FOR THE 1st (LOWLAND) FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS WAR DIARY FROM APRIL - 14th MAY 1915, the 1st Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division he was with when he died), John's name on the Le Touret Memorial x 3. I personally placed 8 Poppies on this Royal Engineers Panel in July 2023. Dedicated to the 8 men listed on the Le Touret Memorial and on the Coatbridge Memorial and a Newspaper clipping from the Coatbridge Express 30/12/1914 (John listed on the Coats Parish Church Roll of Honour).