60722: Photograph, Christmas tin and Ammunition of Private Richard Howells, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry

Private Richard Howells, Montgomeryshire Yeamonary (uncle of Mrs Jones)
"When joined up was in partnership with three brothers and father in farming [South Moelygarth, Welshpool], however, a tribunal demanded that one of the boys was needed for war purposes, the oldest was a stockman, an essential worker on the farm, the second son failed the eye test, so Richard had to pack his bags and go into the Yeomanry. Other than the Somme battle we know little about his involvement in the war, but a postcard written somewhere in France was received by his sisters Sarah and Jessie stating that it was 'real winter' where he was with severe frosts and snow many feet deep making life very difficult for man and horse adding 'my old horse can hardly get along in it at all'."
Howells like so many war veterans didn't relate his war experiences but "among his personal possessions when he died was a little brass box which was a gift from Princess Mary which contained chocs and cigarettes for those that were fighting out there, alsop a magazine of bullets lay with it in his possessions".
"Richard returned from the war to resume his farming career with his family."

Editor's Comment:
Photograph of Pte. Howells wearing respirator bag. Note also cloth unit patch on upper left arm.

The second photograph shows the Princess Mary Christmas Fund tin, with a charger of British Mk VI .303 rounds to the right. As this type of ammunition had been superseded in general service by the Mk VII round, which had a pointed (spitzer) rather than rounded bullet, it seems likely this ammunition was acquired during training.

Corporal 647 Richard Howells, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry