George Howell (soldier)
George Julian Howell | |
---|---|
Staff Sergeant | |
Battles/wars | First World War
Second World War |
Awards | Victoria Cross Military Medal |
George Julian "Snowy" Howell, VC, MM (19 November 1893 – 23 December 1964) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces. Howell was decorated with the Victoria Cross following his actions during the Second Battle of Bullecourt, in which he ran along the parapet of a trench bombing the German forces attacking his position through the use of grenades, and thus driving them back.
Born in a suburb of
Early life
Howell was born in the Sydney suburb of Enfield, New South Wales, on 19 November 1893, the fourth son of English-born carpenter, Francis John Howell, and his Australian wife, Martha (née Sweeny). Howell was educated at Croydon Park and Burwood Public Schools, before receiving an apprenticeship as a bricklayer.[2] Becoming a builder, he was employed in his native Enfield area of Sydney.[3]
First World War
On 3 June 1915, Howell enlisted in the
The 1st Battalion embarked for France in March 1916, and by April the unit was entrenched in the Fromelles sector. In the third week of July, Howell was wounded in the Battle of Pozières while taking part in the Somme offensive. Evacuated to a hospital in Sheffield, England, during early August,[1] Howell attended a training school before returning to his battalion on 26 November.[1][2] Appointed lance corporal on 10 December, he was promoted to corporal on 6 February 1917.[3]
On 9 April 1917, Howell took part in the 1st Battalion's attack on the German held village of Demicourt.
Victoria Cross
In preparation for an attack on the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt, the 1st Australian Brigade—of which the 1st Battalion was part—was attached to the 2nd Australian Division.[7] The attack commenced in the morning of 3 May 1917, with the 2nd Division lined up in conjunction with thirteen other divisions.[8] Despite some progress made early in the attack, the Australian forces were soon held up by strong opposition, and in the evening the 1st Battalion was entrenched in the old German line known as 'OG1'. Three of the battalion's companies occupied the line, while a fourth was placed in reserve. Their position was such that they occupied a wedge into the German line, while two flanks were in German held territory.[7]
From the initial attack, only the Canadians on the extreme right and the 3rd Australian Brigade on the extreme left were able to capture and hold their set objectives. Over the course of the next three days, severe fighting took place and further troops were drawn in to hold and extend the gains of 3 May. On 6 May, the Germans launched a counter-attack which forced the 3rd Brigade to withdraw from their trenches; it was during this engagement that Howell was to perform the act which was to earn him the Victoria Cross.[8]
At 06:00, Howell, who was in charge of a post to the right of the line, noticed the battalion on the right flank was being forced out of its trench and was beginning to retire. Immediately alerting battalion headquarters, Captain Alexander MacKenzie—who had assumed temporary command of the battalion—hurriedly organised a group of non-combatant soldiers from headquarters together with several signallers to form a defensive line along a road bank in order to fend off the expected German advance.
The full citation for Howell's Victoria Cross appeared in a supplement to the London Gazette on 27 June 1917, reading:[11]
War Office, 27th June, 1917.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officer, Warrant Officer, Non-commissioned Officers and men:—
No. 2445 Cpl. George Julian Howell, Inf. Bn., Aus. Imp. Force.
For most conspicuous bravery. Seeing a party of the enemy were likely to outflank his Battalion, Cpl. Howell, on his own initiative, single-handed and exposed to heavy bomb and rifle fire, climbed on to the top of the parapet and proceeded to bomb the enemy, pressing them back along the trench.
Having exhausted his stock of bombs, he continued to attack the enemy with his bayonet. He was then severely wounded.
The prompt action and gallant conduct of this N C.O. in the face of superior numbers was witnessed by the whole Battalion and greatly inspired them in the subsequent successful counter attack.
Hospitalisation and repatriation
Howell's multiple wounds at Bullecourt required a prolonged hospitalisation period for treatment,
Later life
On 1 March 1919, Howell married Sadie Lillian Yates, a nurse, at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Sydney. The pair settled in Coogee, where Howell was employed on the advertising staff of Smith's Newspapers Ltd and later the Bulletin Newspaper Co. Pty Ltd.[1] By 1933, he was the New South Wales representative for the Brisbane Standard and the Queensland Worker.[3]
At the outbreak of the
In December 1953, following his wife's death, Howell moved from Sydney to
Howell died at the
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Gliddon 2000, p. 160
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Staunton 2005, p. 85
- ^ "George Julian Howell" (PDF). First World War Embarkation Roll. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
- ^ "Recommendation for George Julian Howell to be awarded a Military Medal" (PDF). Recommendations: First World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
- ^ "No. 30095". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 May 1917. p. 5196.
- ^ a b c d e Gliddon 2000, p. 159
- ^ a b c Staunton 2005, p. 84
- ^ Gliddon 2000, pp. 158–159
- ^ a b "Recommendation for George Howell to be awarded a Victoria Cross" (PDF). Recommendations: First World War. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
- ^ "No. 30154". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 June 1917. p. 6382.
- ^ "George Julian HOWELL". The AIF Project. Australian Defence Force Academy. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
- ^ "Frank HOWELL". The AIF Project. Australian Defence Force Academy. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
- ^ "Frederick Francis HOWELL". The AIF Project. Australian Defence Force Academy. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
- ^ "Howell, George Julian". World War II Nominal Roll. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 29 October 2008.
- ^ Gliddon 2000, pp. 160–161
- ^ Gliddon 2000, p. 161
- ^ "Victoria Crosses held at the Memorial". Encyclopedia: Victoria Cross. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
References
- Gliddon, Gerald (2000). Arras & Messines 1917. ISBN 0-905778-61-8.
- Staunton, Anthony (2005). Victoria Cross: Australia's Finest and the Battles they Fought. Prahran, Victoria, Australia: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 1-74066-288-1.
External links
- Media related to George Howell at Wikimedia Commons
- "Corporal George Julian Howell". VC Winners. 1/19 RNSWR Association Inc. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.