Frank Abner Howard

Rank:

Lieutenant-Colonel

Unit at enlistment:

11th Reserve Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Commemorated at:

Zion Presbyterian Church

Birth country:

Canada

Birth county:

Brant

Birth city:

Burford, Ontario

Address at enlistment:

82 Charlotte Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

82 Charlotte Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Manufacturer

Employer:

Emery Wheel Co.

Religious denominations:

Presbyterian

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

Letters home

BX September 1, 1915

Refrigerator for Hospital – Col. Howard’s Suggestion Promptly Attended to by Ham and Nott’s

In response to an appeal from Lieutenant Colonel Frank Abner Howard, camp commandant at Shorncliffe the Ham and Nott Company of this city, has forwarded to the Queen’s Canadian Hospital, Shorncliffe, a modern refrigerator for hospital use. No doubt the thoughtfulness of Col. Howard in suggesting such a gift and the promptness of the giving by the local concern will be much appreciated by the hospital authorities and the men who will benefit thereby.

The letter from Col. Howard which was received by Mr. John T. Ham of the Ham and Nott Company was as follows:

Officers Mess
St. Martins Plain
Shorncliffe, Kent

Dear Jack,

There is a hospital here called the Queen’s Canadian Military Hospital which is doing splendid work for wounded Canadians. It is supported entirely by voluntary subscription, the doctors, nurses and officers all giving their services free of charge. They require a refrigerator for their diet room, and I thought perhaps the Ham and Nott Company would like to donate one. Over here they do not seem to know what a really good refrigerator is. If you care to do this the address is “Queen’s Canadian Military Hospital, Shorncliffe, Kent.”

I am still remaining in England and, of course; don’t know when I will be sent over. My work here is assisting in the completion of the training of the men sent over from Canada, and looking after wounded men sent over from France. I am quite fit, notwithstanding what we had to go through last winter on Salisbury Plain.

I suppose you are finding business a bit slow, but Canada will be bigger and better than ever after the war.

We have 48,000 Canadians here and no country in the world can best them. I have now been on active service nearly a year and will be glad to see Brantford again. Give my kind regards to all.

Yours sincerely,
Frank A. Howard

12th Battalion,
St. Martin’s Plain,
Shorncliffe, Kent