Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Hannah Lowe (formerly Howlett), and the late William Howlett of The Green, Anstey, Leics. His enlistment documents record that he gave his mother, Mrs H. Howlett of The Green, Anstey, Leicestershire, England as his next of kin. He gave his trade or calling as Flax Worker with the Bells Mill Company, and stated he was unmarried. His father was shown as having been born in Derbyshire and his mother was born in Leicester. At the time of enlistment he had been resident in New Zealand for 3 ½ years. He gave Mrs Denderson of The Café de Paris, Palmerston North, New Zealand as a friend for contact purposes. Information taken from his medical examination shows that he was 5 foot 9 ½ inches in height, weighed 134 pounds and had a chest measurement of 33 to 36 inches. His complexion was described as sallow with brown eyes and light brown hair. He gave his religion as Church of England. His record of service gives the following information. Embarked with the 35th Reinforcements “D” Company 2nd March 1918 aboard HMNZT 101 “Tofua” bound for Southampton, England. Disembarked Suez, Egypt 8th April 1918. Embarked Suez, Egypt 30th April 1918. Disembarked Southampton, England 15th May 1918.Embarked for France 25th August 1918. Marched into Camp in France 27th August 1918. Joined Battalion and posted to “C” Company 31st August 1918. Reported missing in action 26th October 1918. Believed Prisoner of War with no further information available 14th December 1918. Details from the Court of Enquiry give the following accounts. 8th January 1919 in Bendburg, Germany 2nd Lieutenant Gibbons states:- I am the Acting Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade, Rifleman Howlett belonged to No. 9 Platoon of “C” Company under command of 2nd Lieutenant Richards being with the Platoon when it went into action on the 26th October 1918. 2nd Lieutenant Richards who was wounded and with the greatest part of his Platoon cut off by the enemy. After the action of the 4 hours a search that was made of the ground resulted in the discovery of the bodies of 8 men of the Platoon. No trace was found of Rifleman Howlett or 2nd Lieutenant Richards. 2 other men have been accounted for as wounded and taken prisoners. The Finding. The court of enquiry is unable to deliver a finding but is of the opinion he may be a prisoner of war. 4th February 1919 in Bendburg, Germany 54341 Corporal F. C. Emery states:- I was the N.C.O. in charge of the Lewis Gun section to which Rifleman Howlett belonged. I had been wounded by a shell on the night of the 25th October and so was not sent forward in the attack next day. I was however anxious about the men of my section and made enquiries later and Corporal S. Oram who went out over the ground subsequently told me that he was one of a party that found and buried the body of Rifleman Howlett at about (location not shown).13th February 1919 Finding. In the Field France. Killed in Action.