William Lewis Howells
Lieutenant William Lewis Howells – Home Guard, 14th Glamorganshire (Swansea) Battalion
Early Life
William Lewis Howells was born in Swansea,
officially recorded as 1898, though other records suggest his true year
of birth may have been 1896. He was the son of Samuel Lewis Howells
and Mary Jane Morgan, who married in 1888.
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| 1901 Census |
In the 1901 Census, the Howells family were living at 2 Fleet Street. Samuel, then 49, worked as a dock labourer, while Mary, aged 36, had been born in St. Clears, Carmarthenshire. Their children at home were Harriet C. (11), Thomas G. (7), William L. (5), and Elsie M. (1), all born in Swansea.
1911 Census
Samuel died in 1909, leaving Mary a
widow. By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 12 Fleet Street.
Mary, then 46, remained head of the household. Harriet
Caroline (21) worked as a laundress; Thomas George (17) was a
blacksmith striker; William (15) was employed as a junior clerk student,
while Elsie Maria (11) and Frances Adeline (9) were still at
school.
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| 1921 Census |
The 1921 Census shows that the family was still living at 12 Fleet Street. Mary (57) undertook household duties. Thomas George (27) was employed as a police constable; William (25) worked as a motor driver in oil and hardware; and Frances Adeline (19) was employed at South Sales Laundry Co. Ltd.
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| William Lewis Howells and Annie Beatrice Hayward marriage certificate St. James church |
On Boxing Day 1926, William married Annie Beatrice Hayward at St. James Church, Swansea. His address at the time of marriage remained 12 Fleet Street.
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| 1939 Register |
By the time of the 1939 Register, William and Annie were living at the same property with their daughter, Brenda, and his widowed mother, Mary. William’s occupation was recorded as a fitter’s labourer.
Military Service
In May 1940, the Home Guard, 14th Glamorganshire
(Swansea) Battalion was formed through the redesignation of the Local
Defence Volunteer Company. The unit consisted of men in reserved occupations
and those either too young or too old for service in the regular armed forces.
Members wore khaki uniforms and were equipped with rifles.
William Lewis Howells served with the battalion,
holding the rank of Lieutenant.
Death
Lieutenant William Lewis Howells died on 22nd
March 1944, aged 48. Although he was not killed in direct combat,
his death came during the final year of the Second World War, when the Home
Guard was still tasked with local defence duties, guarding key installations,
and preparing against potential enemy threats. His passing represented not only
a loss to his family but also to his comrades in the Swansea Home Guard, where
he had held a position of leadership and responsibility.
The circumstances of his death were noted with sadness in
Swansea, where his long association with Fleet Street and the close-knit
community meant he was widely known and respected.
Burial
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| South Wales Daily Post |
The report described a solemn occasion, marked by the
presence of both relatives and comrades-in-arms, highlighting the esteem in
which Lieutenant Howells was held. His widow, Annie Beatrice, and
their daughter, Brenda, were among the mourners, together with surviving
members of the Howells family.
Notably, Lieutenant Howells’ interment was the first
military burial recorded at Danygraig Cemetery in 1944, a distinction that
further marked the solemnity of the occasion.
The burial at Danygraig Cemetery ensured that William
Lewis Howells was laid to rest close to the community he had served all his
life, linking his story permanently with Swansea’s history during the war
years.
Legacy
Lieutenant William Lewis Howells is remembered as a
dedicated family man and loyal officer of the Swansea Home Guard. His
life reflects both the resilience of working-class families in industrial Swansea
and the crucial role of the Home Guard in Britain’s wartime defence. His
service and sacrifice are part of the collective memory of Swansea’s
contribution during the Second World War.
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