John Edward Howden was the first child of Edward Howden and Julia Halls, who married in the parish church at Aughton on 2 December 1896. The couple lived at Wistow Lordship when John was born the following spring, and he was taken to the parish church in the village for baptism on 6 June.

The family moved to Laytham, where another son, Herbert, was born towards the end of 1899, followed by a daughter. Around 1902, they moved again to Scalm Park, Wistow. By the time of the 1911 census, the couple had six children. Fourteen-year-old John and thirteen-year-old Herbert were still at school, but soon left to work on local farms.

Julia went on to have two more children and was expecting another when John enlisted in the army on 17 July 1916 in Selby. When he formally attested on 25 August, he initially gave his address as c/o Mr Webster, Hagg Bush Farm, Burn—likely his employer—before amending it to his parents’ address at Flaxley Lodge, Selby. John was working as a horseman, probably for Mr Webster.

At 18 years and 10 months old, John stood 5'2" tall and weighed 115 lbs. He joined the East Yorkshire Regiment and was issued service number 34859. After initial training, he embarked for France on 13 October, bound for Étaples, intended to serve with the 13th (Service) Battalion. However, on 23 October, he was transferred to the 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, receiving a new service number: 43285.

This was a service battalion under orders of the 43rd Brigade in the 14th (Light) Division. John joined the battalion in the field on 25 October as part of a draft of 98 men. The battalion, having suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in September, received additional drafts before the end of the month. These new arrivals would quickly be absorbed into the cycle of front-line duty, reserve, and rest.

In early November, the men were in “rest,” meaning they were away from active combat but still engaged in training, repairing billets, and attending parades. On 7 November, they were ordered to march to Sibiville the next day. It rained heavily during the 10-mile trek, soaking the men through. The war diary noted, “Billets not very good but can be made much better with a little work. Now about 2 miles from Frevent.”

The next day, training resumed, and on 11 November the men had the rare opportunity for baths in Frevent. The battalion stayed in Sibiville until mid-December, then marched to Arras via Grand-Rullecourt. On 24 December, they relieved the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in the trenches, where they spent Christmas uneventfully.

As 1917 began, a planned trench raid was postponed, and the battalion was relieved on 1 January. They were repositioned with one company each in Ronville and Achicourt defences, and two near the Arras railway station. The relief was completed without casualties.

On 5 January, final arrangements were made for the raid. The party comprised three officers and 150 other ranks, divided into three detachments. Their objective was to assess whether the enemy had a view of the ground east of their position. The artillery barrage began at 3:08 pm and lasted until 4:02 pm. While detachments A and B, and part of C, returned safely, the rest of C—led by an officer with wounded men and a stretcher bearer—had to take cover in a shell hole until nightfall.

The casualties from the raid were recorded as two officers wounded, seven men killed, 34 wounded, and three missing. One of the killed was 43285 Private John Edward Howden. His death was reported in the Selby Times, and an In Memoriam notice appeared on 26 January.

John's body was never recovered. His mother, desperate for information, wrote to the War Office, pleading:
“I have got nothing but his money. I wanted something belonging to him, poor lad. I have got nothing to show that he is dead... I think they ought to inform me…”

Sadly, Julia never learned where John’s remains lay. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. For his service, John earned the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His war gratuity of £3 and back pay were sent to Julia. He is also remembered on the Selby Abbey war memorial.

Edward and Julia Howden remained at Flaxley Lodge in 1921 with their three youngest children. Edward died in 1937, aged 71, in Kelfield. Julia was living at 1 Rhodes Terrace, Selby in 1939. She passed away in 1968 at the age of 91.

Both were buried in Selby Cemetery. Their headstone bears a tribute to their two sons—John and Herbert—who gave their lives for their country.