Remembering World War II

Name: Ernest Henry Howell Rank: Stoker First Class Service Number: V/93160 Service: HMCS Grou, Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve Date of Birth: September 28, 1922 Place of Birth: Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: September 17, 1944 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, Nova Scotia Age at Enlistment: 21 Height: 5 feet, 8⅞ inches Complexion: Medium Hair colour: Brown Eye colour: Blue Occupation: Cabin Boy, SS Grayburn Marital Status: Single Religion: Methodist Next of Kin: Lucy Howell (Mother) Date of Death: October 2, 1945 Age at Death: 23 Cemetery: Corozal American Cemetery, Panama Grave: Plot K, Row 1, Grave 2 Commemorated on Page 526 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on November 6 Ernest Henry Howell was the son of Eli Howell (1898-1943) and Lucy M. (Pynn) Howell (1904-1983), of Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, and the brother of Vivian Jean Howell (1924-2011), Doris Joyce Howell (1926-2008), and Stanley James Howell (born 1928). Ernest attended Whitney School and entered the Sydney Academy School in September 1939. In 1940, he joined the Merchant Navy and served in England until September 1943, when he joined the Royal Navy. A year later, on September 17, 1944, he transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve. His previous trade is listed as Kitchen Porter at the time. He served on HMCS Niagara from December 3, 1944, to June 8, 1945, and transferred to the HMCS Grou on September 22, 1945. HMCS Grou sailed for the Pacific in September 1945 and was at the Panama Canal at the end of September. Stoker 1st Class Ernest Henry Howell died in the United States Navy Hospital at Coco Solo, Panama on October 2, 1945, from injuries he sustained ashore at Cristobal, Panama, on September 29, 1945, while celebrating his birthday. How he became injured is unknown. He was returned by US Shore Patrol (Navy Military Police) to the jetty where HMCS Grou was docked in port, who turned him over to members of the ship’s company. Once returned to the ship, he was taken to sickbay. The next morning, the Grou’s medical staff determined he needed to be transferred to the US Naval Hospital in Coco Solo. He was transferred at 8 am the next morning. The USN Hospital reported that he never regained consciousness and died on October 2, 1945. His death was attributed to a head injury sustained while ashore on September 29th. Stoker First Class Ernest Henry Howell was initially interred at the Mount Hope Cemetery (Cementerio Monte Esperanza) in Colón, Canal Zone, Panama on October 5, 1945, and re-interred at the Corozal American Cemetery in Corozal, Panama.

Ernest Henry Howell

Sources: Canadian Virtual War Memorial For Posterity’s Sake findagrave American Battle Monuments Commission background photo: Corozal American Cemetery, Panama