Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Caroline Howlett, born 1861 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. Charles Albert, was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Somerby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, George Henry, born in the 4th quarter of 1887 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and Sarah, born 1897 in Somerby, in March 1901 the family were residing as boarders at Twyford, Leicestershire, the home of James Wells, a shoe maker, born 1846 in Warwickshire. Charles was awarded the British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 30 Jun-16 – FERME DU BOIS. 3.05am. Battalion attacked enemy front and support line and succeeded in entering same. The support line was occupied for about ½ hour and the front line for 4 hours. The withdrawal was necessitated by the supply of bombs and ammunition giving out and the heavy enemy barrage on our front line and communication trenches, prevented reinforcements being sent forward. Operation orders are attached to Diary. The Battalion was relieved by the 14th HAMPSHIRE REGIMENT at 10.00am and marched to LES LOBES after resting at RICHBOURG.
Casualties 30/6/16: Other ranks. Killed 21. Missing reported killed 35. Wounded 236. Missing 120 Total 412.
List of Officer casualties attached.
Officers’ Casualties during engagement of 30th June 1916.
Lieutenant Colonel IMPEY, G. H. Wounded.
Captain COTTON, A. N. Killed in action.
Lieutenant BOYS, S. C. Wounded.
Lieutenant SPARKS, C. Killed in action.
Lieutenant ROBINSON, H. C. T. Wounded.
2nd Lieutenant FENCHELLE, G. J. Killed in action.
2nd Lieutenant AMBLER, G. Wounded.
2nd Lieutenant ARKCOLL, F. T. Killed in action.
2nd Lieutenant HANBY, F. J. Missing.
2nd Lieutenant MOODY, L. L. Killed in action.
2nd Lieutenant MERCER, J. Wounded.
2nd Lieutenant DORMAN, C. C. B. Wounded.
2nd Lieutenant MOYLE, F. W. Missing.
2nd Lieutenant ARDILL, J. Missing.
2nd Lieutenant SWALLOW, S. H. Missing.
2nd Lieutenant MASON, F. A. Wounded.
2nd Lieutenant SALBERG, J. B. Missing.
On Friday August 11th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – TWYFORD MAN KILLED. Private Charles A. Howlett, Royal Sussex, was killed in action on June 30th. He was a native of Twyford, where he was well known and highly respected, and where his mother is living. Strange to say, his young lady from Sussex was on a visit at Barsby, where she saw a paper and found in it her portrait, which had been picked up on the battlefield.