William Upton Howes

William joined the Royal Navy in 1942.

HMS Mahratta was an M-class destroyer. Mahratta was adopted by the people of Walsall, who held a "Warship Week" from 7–14 February 1942, aiming to raise £700,000 – the cost of a warship. She was completed on 8 April 1943 and entered service on that date. During trials in May 1943 HMS Mahratta escorted RMS Queen Mary part way across the Atlantic. She had a short but busy career in the North Atlantic and Arctic, largely guarding merchant convoys.

On 25 February 1944, a Catalina aircraft of 210 Squadron attacked and sank U-601 which was trailing the convoy. Mahratta was struck by two T5 Gnat torpedoes fired by U-990 off the coast of Norway. She sank at 71°17′N 13°30′E. Only 16 of the 236 crew survived. Six men from the City of Nottingham perished – Leading Seaman Fred Bater from Mapperley, Ordinary Seamen Harold Dabell from Bulwell and John Wheatley from Nottingham, Able Seaman William Howes from Aspley, Leading Steward Stanley Scott from Lenton and Signalman George Smith from Nottingham. Ordinary Seaman Gerald Whyles from Worksop also died. (Wikipedia)

William's body was not recovered for burial and he is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

CWGC Additional information: 'Son of William and Lily Howes of 16 Amersham Rise, Aspley, Nottingham.'

Nottingham Evening Post, 13 March 1944: ‘Local War Casualties. Able Seaman W Howes, RN., only son of Mr and Mrs W Howes, of 16, Amersham-rise, Aspley, was killed on active service of February 25th. Before joining the Navy in 1942 he was a member of a Notts. Home Guard A.A. Battery.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)