John Howey
When John Joseph Howey was born on May 28, 1898, in Liverpool, Lancashire, his father, David, was 34 and his mother, Margaret, was 28. He had two sons and four daughters with Gladys Rosa Lillian Gray between 1930 and 1948. He died on April 16, 1967, in Liverpool, Lancashire, at the age of 68.
Birth: 28 May 1898
Marriage: 4 May 1963
Death: 16 April 1967
Marriage: 4 May 1963
Death: 16 April 1967
Early years
John Howey was baptised on 28 May 1898 in St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Liverpool. He was the son of David and Margaret [Irwin].
In 1908, John was sentenced to 6 1/4 years in a boys home. His crime...not under proper control, with previous convictions as a truant, thief, and someone who sleeps out.
In 1908, John was sentenced to 6 1/4 years in a boys home. His crime...not under proper control, with previous convictions as a truant, thief, and someone who sleeps out.
British Home Child, John Howey
On 18th May 1911, aged 12, John emigrated to Canada. He was one of 100,000 British Home Children who where forced to emigrate to Canada. With some estimating that a total of 150,000 where distributed around the British colonies in 350 years. In 1899 the Catholic Children’s Aid Committee was established by Bishop Whiteside at Trueman Street, Liverpool. Initially, Canadian Authorities complained of children being sent medically unfit for emigration.
Some interesting points from the Johns application to emigrate:
•Height - 4ft 2in
•Address - Boys refuge industrial school, 62 St. Anne street, Liverpool•How long has the child been in your institution? 3 years
•Is its disposition good, fair, or doubtful? Good
•Does it understand it will live in a country away from theatres etc? Yes
•Does it understand that in Canada it will have to work hard or starve? Yes
•Children were returned to England for physical or mental defects; or who have bad character
•Children should be vaccinated 1 year before sailing
•It is impossible to keep children in Canada who suffer from incontinence of urine and the like.
When in Canada, John was assigned by contract to work on a farm until the age of 18. 95% (including John) of BHC had a relatively good life in Canada. The other 5% where subjected to beatings, rape, and even killed (yet the accused went unpunished). 2010 was the year of the BHC in Canada, and September 28th is now recognised as 'British Home Child Day'; a day we can remember our BHC ancestor, John Howey.
Great Lakes Storm of 1913
In 1913, John Joseph Howey was living in Ontario when a devastating storm furiously slammed the Great Lakes.
Some interesting points from the Johns application to emigrate:
•Height - 4ft 2in
•Address - Boys refuge industrial school, 62 St. Anne street, Liverpool•How long has the child been in your institution? 3 years
•Is its disposition good, fair, or doubtful? Good
•Does it understand it will live in a country away from theatres etc? Yes
•Does it understand that in Canada it will have to work hard or starve? Yes
•Children were returned to England for physical or mental defects; or who have bad character
•Children should be vaccinated 1 year before sailing
•It is impossible to keep children in Canada who suffer from incontinence of urine and the like.
When in Canada, John was assigned by contract to work on a farm until the age of 18. 95% (including John) of BHC had a relatively good life in Canada. The other 5% where subjected to beatings, rape, and even killed (yet the accused went unpunished). 2010 was the year of the BHC in Canada, and September 28th is now recognised as 'British Home Child Day'; a day we can remember our BHC ancestor, John Howey.
Great Lakes Storm of 1913
In 1913, John Joseph Howey was living in Ontario when a devastating storm furiously slammed the Great Lakes.
Military service - 2 World Wars
World War I (WWI), was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918. It involved all the world's great powers, which were assembled in two opposing alliances: the Allies and the Central Powers. Ultimately more than 70 million military personnel, were mobilised in one of the largest wars in history. More than 9 million combatants were killed, and it was the sixth deadliest conflict in world history.
On 14/06/1916, John Howey joined the Great War, fighting on the side of he allies as a member of the 228th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Canadian Forestry Corps was created 14 Nov 1916, when it was discovered that huge amounts of wood were needed, the British government concluded that there was nobody more experienced in the British Empire to harvest timber than the Canadians. The unit was not active as an infantry unit in front line fighting. In December 1916, the balance of the 238th Forestry Battalion, was transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps and was known as the Base Details Detachment.
World War II, was a global conflict that started in 1939 and ended in 1945. It involved most of the world's nations who formed the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million military personnel mobilised. Marked by significant events involving the mass death of civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it is the deadliest conflict in human history, resulting in over 70 million fatalities.
On 11/09/1939, John Howey joined the the second World War, fighting on the side of he allies. He was Demobilized from the Canadian army 29/03/1940, where it appears he signed up for the British Army Pioneer Corps. The Pioneer Corps was used for light engineering duties. John was transferred to the Army reserves 28/08/1945.
On 14/06/1916, John Howey joined the Great War, fighting on the side of he allies as a member of the 228th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Canadian Forestry Corps was created 14 Nov 1916, when it was discovered that huge amounts of wood were needed, the British government concluded that there was nobody more experienced in the British Empire to harvest timber than the Canadians. The unit was not active as an infantry unit in front line fighting. In December 1916, the balance of the 238th Forestry Battalion, was transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps and was known as the Base Details Detachment.
World War II, was a global conflict that started in 1939 and ended in 1945. It involved most of the world's nations who formed the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million military personnel mobilised. Marked by significant events involving the mass death of civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it is the deadliest conflict in human history, resulting in over 70 million fatalities.
On 11/09/1939, John Howey joined the the second World War, fighting on the side of he allies. He was Demobilized from the Canadian army 29/03/1940, where it appears he signed up for the British Army Pioneer Corps. The Pioneer Corps was used for light engineering duties. John was transferred to the Army reserves 28/08/1945.
Where he lived
Johns National Identity card shows the addresses he lived in between 1945 and 1951:
- Jul 1945 - 6 Little Woolton Street, Liverpool.
- Feb 1950 - 25 Ashton Street, Liverpool.
- May 1950 - 6 Crown Place, Liverpool.
- Aug 1950 - 75 Bamber Street, Liverpool.
- Jul 1951 - NSC Hostel, Sharp Street, Walkden
- Aug 1951 - 73 Bamber Street, Liverpool, England
Marriage & Death
In 1963, John Howey married Gladys Osborne, his long time partner, and mother to his children. On 16/04/1967, John Howey passed away, the death certificate shows the main cause of death as a heart attack.
