David Thomas Howarth

First Name: 
David
Middle Name: 
Thomas
Last Name: 
Howarth
Mother's Name: 
Sarah (nee Butterworth)
Father's Name: 
Nathanial Howarth
Date Enlisted: 
Thursday, August 13, 1914
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Sergeant
Unit: 
Naval and Military Tropical Force
Company: 
C
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Tuesday, July 13, 1937
Place of Death: 
Wollongong
Details: 

Sergeant David Howarth (Service no. 359) was born in Lancashire England in 1887, and arrived in Brisbane with his family on 27th March, 1913. The family came to Port Kembla and as soon as war was declared David, a single 27 year old labourer, enlisted. 

Soon on his way to New Guinea with the first group leaving Sydney on 19th August, 1914 David arrived on Palm Island on 24th August where they stayed until 2nd September 1914. While on the island troops engaged in drill, musketry practice, target practice, sport and concerts.

While there, a large number of ships and both Australian submarines arrived. AE 2 was the submarine that successfully got through the Dardenelles and AE 1 was lost at sea with no trace. There is a current search for that vessel being done.

A short stay in Port Morseby and David sailed for Rabaul arriving on 11th September, 1914. At this time the Germans were refusing to surrender and on 12th September C coy went ashore. They took up quarters in the New Guinea stores and plenty of prisoners were received. Over the next few days fighting occurred and on 27th December, 1914 he was promoted to Sergeant and became employed as the Police Master at Kaweing.

Sergeant Howarth was returned to Australia in November 1915 due to illness. He contracted Malaria and was sent to hospital at Blackheath for treatment.

Discharged medically unfit on 29th July, 1916, in 1920 David married Edith Bradley.