PTE. W. D. HOWIE
The death occurred at Riverton on Tuesday of Pte. William David Howie, M.M. and bar, of the New Zealand Defence Forces. The deceased was serving on guard duty at a vital point in this locality.
Pte. Howie, who was in his 56th year, was born at Hampden; and was the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs D. S. Howie. He attended school at Hampden and afterwards engaged in country pursuits.
On the the outbreak of the last war he enlisted and served with the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment, going overseas with the 3rd Reinforcements. He served in Gallipoli and France. The deceased had one of the longest records of fighting service at the Front during that campaign, serving in practically every stunt until he was wounded by a shell about two months before the Armistice. For this long record with the Division, being principally engaged on patrol work for the Battalion, he was decorated with the M.M. and bar. He was the oldest of three brothers all of whom were serving, one brother who pre deceased him being also decorated with the M.M., while the remaining one is again serving with the National Reserve.
On demobilisation, deceased resumed country pursuits and on the outbreak of the present war re-enlisted, being placed on vital points guard duty.
The deceased was unmarried and was a most efficient and popular soldier with comrades. Military comrades were pall-bearers from the mortuary, the Rev. H. R. Wright conducting a short service and at the graveside the pall-bearers were members of the local R. S. A., the Rev. F. L. Irwin, L.Th, conducting the burial. Trumpeter E. Hunter sounded the last Post and the Reveille, the returned men present dropping poppies on the coffin.
He was interred at the Riverton Cemetery by the Rev. F. L. Irwin, the local R.S.A. making the necessary funeral arrangements. -Western Star, 6/2/1942.
A quick look at William Howie's records from the Great War indicates that he was an unruly soldier. A soldier whose conduct on parade was punished and whose conduct in battle was rewarded. Drunkenness, reduced to ranks, insulting an NCO - all are balanced by the award of the Military Medal after the Somme battles and a Bar to it at the end of the war - which saw him discharged as medically unfit after gunshot wounds in both legs. He also spent some time in a VD ward in Codford Hospital, England.
William was wounded in the last months of the war, taking several bullets and being invalided home a few weeks after the armistice.
PALMERSTON.
A largely attended and enthusiastic welcome social to returned soldiers was held in the Town Hall on Friday, when the following lately returned men were present: Messrs Cook, Chisholm, Diack, D. Howie (Military Medal and Bar), W. Howie (Military Medal), Henderson, Mills, Sutherland, and Titterton.
The Mayor (Mr R. W. Wheeler) occupied the chair, and in extending a hearty welcome to the men, and hopes for their speedy and complete restoration to health, commented on the fact that, since the last social the great war had come to a successful termination. Though at times we had staggered under the blows from the great German war machine, Britain and her Allies had emerged triumphant, thanks to the bravery and devotion of the men who had fought so hard by land and sea. Mr E. H. Clark, in the course of an address, hoped that men, who as a result of their patriotism had returned disabled or broken down in health, with their earning capacity impaired, should not suffer financially.
The following performers contributed a programme, much enjoyed by the large audience: — Mrs S. B. Smith (songs), Misses Austin (songs), Christie (songs), Hurndell (songs), Lefevre (songs), Messrs E. H. Clark (hornpipe), McFarlane (recitation), and Whittlestone (songs). After supper dancing was indulged in for a few hours. -Otago Witness, 29/1/1919.
Also in his records are a few notes on his service in the Second World War. He was part of a detachment guarding the power station at Lake Monowai in 1941 and before that the Awarua Wireless station, which is on the road between Invercargill and Bluff.
He was admitted to Riverton Hospital at the end of January, 1942, with acute appendicitis. His condition was too severe and peritonitis set in. He died a few days after admission.
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