DNA and a decade of work identify B.C. soldier, 106 years after death in France

Article content

After a decade of work tracing DNA back several generations, the remains of a Vancouver soldier have been identified more than 100 years after he died in France.

Article content

The remains of Cpl. Percy Howarth, a soldier in the First World War, were discovered during munitions clearing in Vendin-le-Vieil, France, in 2011, but it would take 10 years of experts digging through his family tree to find a living relative from his maternal line before he could be identified.

Article content

Howarth was 23 years old when he fought with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion in the Battle of Hill 70 near Lens, France, in August 1917, and was presumed to have died in the fight.

More than 10,000 Canadians died, were wounded or went missing in that battle, including 140 men from Howarth’s infantry battalion, 118 of whom have no known grave.

Sarah Lockyer, the casualty identification coordinator for the Department of National Defence, said the list of who the remains might belong to was long.

Article content

It was clear the remains were a Canadian from the metal title on the shoulder of the uniform.

A whistle found with the remains suggested the person ranked higher than a private, Lockyer said, but there were no details on what specific unit the person was with.

“We have to consider all of the units that went through that specific area of the battlefield of the Battle of Hill 70,” she said.

“So, it makes for a very large list to start with, which makes it that much more complicated and that much more time consuming to try to figure out who this person is.”

Estimates of the remains’ age and height were used to whittle down the list a little more until a few dozen names were left of the most likely candidates.

Then began the hunt for living relatives of those soldiers on the short list who would be willing to have their DNA tested.

Article content

The only DNA that could be retrieved from the bones was a specific type passed from mother to child. In order to confirm or rule out Howarth, experts had to find someone living from his maternal line.

All four of Howarth’s sisters died childless. His mother was an only child.

“So, then we had to go up to Percy’s grandmother and see if she had any sisters, and we’re in the early 1800s at this point, and then find out about the grandmother’s sisters and see if we could track down somebody who falls within the maternal line who’s alive today,” Lockyer said.

In 2021, a distant relative was found who Lockyer said “had no clue” who Howarth was, but was willing to have their DNA tested, confirming his remains had been found.

It would take another year for his relatives to be identified.

Article content

“It took a ridiculous amount of time. It took much longer than any of us wanted, but the outcome kind of negates the fact that it took a significant amount of time,” Lockyer said.

“Because what’s important is that Percy has his name back, right? That’s what matters. So, it’s pretty special.”

Howarth was born on Aug. 16, 1894, in Darwen, Lancashire, England. His parents were Richard and Margaret Howarth, née Dearden. Percy’s family included siblings John, Mary, Eugenie, Eleazer, Charlie, Clara, and Maud.

He immigrated to Canada in 1912, sailing from England on the RMS Victorian. Before enlisting, he worked as a seaman in Vancouver.

On July 19, 1916, he enlisted with the 121st Overseas Battalion, part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Vancouver, at the age of 21.

Article content

Once in England, he was transferred to the 7th Infantry Battalion and trained with that unit. It was sent to France in late 1916.

A statement from the Department of National Defence says Howarth’s family has been notified and he will be buried “at the earliest opportunity” in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Loos British Cemetery in France.

Lockyer said they’re hoping to bury three sets of remains that have been identified at the same time and she hopes to meet Howarth’s family at the ceremony.

More news, fewer ads: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.