Source: 153rd Wellington web site.
Under age. Lied about age. Born 1900.
Family Search: When Robert Joseph Benjamin Howden was born on 3 August 1900, in Ontario, Canada, his father, Benjamin F. Howden, was 34 and his mother, Margaret Trimble, was 25. He lived in Wellington, Ontario, Canada in 1911. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1916, at the age of 16, his occupation is listed as clerk in Guelph, Wellington, Ontario, Canada. He died on 15 April 1924, in Guelph, Wellington, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 23, and was buried in Guelph, Wellington, Ontario, Canada.
Trade listed as Clerk. DOB 3-8-97, born Equessing Township, Halton, Ontario. 5 foot 4 inches. Blue eyes, light hair. Methodist. NOK Margaret Howden, Mother. Benjamin Howden, father. Enlisted Guelph 18-3-16 (age 18 years 8 months). On 153rd Nominal Roll 1-4-16, no transfer noted. On 153rd Nominal Rolls as published Guelph Mercury 10-6-16 and 1-12-16. Embarked with 153rd Halifax N.S. SS Olympic 29-4-17. Arrived Liverpool 7-5-17. Assigned 25th Reserve for Training and Administration. Taken on Strength 18th Battalion 29-3-18. GSW 23-8-18, left thigh. Globe & Mail Canadian Casualty lists 29-8-18 under ‘Infantry’ reports wounded. Returned to Canada aboard SS Caronia, 22-5-19. Demobilized London 24-5-19. Ontario Death Records (033625) notes death 15-4-24, pulmonary tuberculosis. Veterans Death Card: death due to war service. Woodlawn Cemetery records Guelph, buried Block U Sec 18 Lot 19 Grave 1. NOK Benjamin Howden, father. Birthdate on record 3-8-00, if correct lied about age to serve in 153rd.
File: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 4549 – 12, courtesy Library & Archives Canada.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 