Chief Stoker.
276030.
Born Ottery St. Mary 27th December 1873.
Died at sea 31st May 1916.
Buried Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery I.9.41.
George was survived by his widow Ellen. His brother, Albert Charles Howe, died on the same day when HMS Indefatigable was sunk by a catastrophic explosion of her cordite.
Western Times 9th June 1916
OTTERY ST. MARY
Consternation was caused throughout Ottery St. Mary when the names of the battleships lost in the North Sea battle were officially listed by the Admiralty, for it was a well-known fact that a good many Ottery lads had taken part. As far as can at present be gathered, three at least have given their lives for their King and Country, while two others have been saved. There were two on the “Indefatigable,” viz., Albert Howe, stoker P.O., son of Mr. John Howe, labourer, of Yonder-street, and F.G. Short, son of Mrs. Short, of 17, Yonder-street. The latter had not joined the Navy long, and only on Thursday morning last a friend received a letter from him saying that he was on the “Indefatigable,” and had been on her nearly two months, and was as happy as a lark, and in the best of health and spirits. Another reported as killed in action is Chief Petty Officer George Howe, of the “Acaster,” another son of Mr. John Howe. Mr Howe has two other sons in the Navy – the youngest, Fred Howe, who was on the ill-fated “Argyle,” and Robert Howe, who was called up as a Naval Reservist. George was the eldest son, and had got in about 20 years’ service. Still another son is in the Devons.