Family background
Alexis Howarth was born 16 March 1889 at Marrickville, NSW, the son of James Henry Howarth and Marie Jane Libeau. He married Vivian Margaret Bell (1895-1982) at Sydney on 1 May 1918 and they had 2 sons. Howarth died at Newtown on 27 June 1968, aged 79 years, and he was buried in Woronora Cemetery. Alexis Howarth lived at 21A Glen Street, Marrickville, Redfern.
Occupation & interests
Alexis Howarth joined the Australian Imperial Force on 28 August 1914 and embarked from Sydney on 18 October 1914. His listed occupation was locomotive engine driver. He was deployed to Gallipoli and was wounded in action in France. He returned to Sydney on 5 July 1917 and was discharged on 11 August 1917.
Howarth established his own business as a tobacconist.
Howarth stood under the banner of ‘non political’ invariably independent alderman and belonged to a business fraternity where notion of independency was difficult to reconcile with the reality of their political lives. He had a keen interest in the piano and for several years sat the practical and theory of music examinations held by the Australian Music Examination Board.
Community activity
Howarth was a Trustee of the Redfern Branch of the RSL in 1951.
Honours & awards
Alexis Howarth was awarded the King’s Coronation Medal in 1937.
Local government service
Alexis Howarth was alderman on Redfern Council, representing Redfern Ward in 1932-48. He was mayor in 1937 and 1947-48.
References
‘Advertising’, Sydney Morning Herald, 5 January 1932, p.3, https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/16831572
‘New Mayors’, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 January 1937, p. 16, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17314909
National Archives of Australia: B2455, HOWARTH A 945