Date of birth:

1913 (Montserrat)

Date of death:

November 15th, 2004

Service number:

D15157

Nationality:

Canadian

Seymour Wylde Howes was born in Montserrat. When the Second World War broke out, he and his two brothers sailed to Miami on a ship and then took a train to Montreal to join Canada in the war effort. They all wanted to join the Air Force as did his two brothers, Bruce K. Howes and Kingsley Howes. Seymour was assigned to the Canadian Army possibly because of his engineering background. All three brothers survived the war, although Kingsley lost his toes to frostbite in a German PoW Camp. After the war, Bruce was in the refrigeration business and then went on to be an Anglican Minister in various parts of Canada. Kingsley returned to Montserrat and after raising a family, returned to Toronto in 1984. He was killed in a car accident. Seymour died on 15 November 2004 at the age of 91 years.

Sergeant-Major Howes was cross-loaded on to the landing craft carrying Number 2 Platoon in the initial assault wave.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sergeant-Major

Unit:

16th Field Company Royal Canadian Engineers, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, British Army

Awarded on:

August 31st, 1944

Awarded for:

Operation Neptune

Recommendation:
At H plus 60 minutes of "D" Day, the Landing Craft Infantry (L) with Company Sergeant-Major Howes and 34 personnel of No.1 Platoon aboard in the hold, struck a mine 100 yards off shore of Nan Red Beach and grounded in ten feet of water. Company Sergeant-Major Howes and several men made their way ashore, and immediately afterwards a life line was passed to the beach to assist the remaining personnel. On two occasions Company Sergeant-Major Howes plunged back into the water to assist drowning men ashore. Corporal Creighton of No.1 Platoon later stated that he would not have reached the beach with Company Sergeant-Major Howes' assistance. All this time enemy snipers were continually firing on the beaches and by leaving the security of the sea wall and going back into the water Company Sergeant-Major Howes stood considerable risk of being shot and drowned. He performed these deeds, however, regardless of his own safety.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: The Canadian Military Engineers Association
• - FOWLER, T. R., Valour on Juno Beach, General Srore Publishing House, Ontario, Canada, 2005.
  - National Defence and the Canadian Forces
  - Biography: Canadian Military Engineers
  - Photos: Seymour Wylde Howes Medals
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36679/supplement/4050/data.pdf