Henry Howard (British Army officer)

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Howard DSO MC (25 February 1915 – 6 May 2000) was a British Army officer who was twice awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order for leadership whilst commanding the 1st Battalion The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (the 43rd) in the North-West Europe campaign during the Second World War. He later became Laird of the Hebridean island of Gometra.^[1]

Early life

Frederick Henry Howard was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Royal East Kent Regiment, known as the Buffs, in 1935.

Early Military career

Howard was awarded his first Military Cross while serving with the 2nd Battalion, Royal East Kent Regiment, during the Arab Revolt in Palestine in 1936. His platoon, while on internal security duties, came under heavy fire near Tarshiha and despite being injured his action led to the assailants being forced from their position on a hillside. He was seconded to the King's African Rifles and served in the East African campaign against the Italians in Kenya, Somaliland and Abyssinia, where he was mentioned in despatches. Howard rejoined the regiment in 1941 and served with the 1st Battalion in the Western Desert campaign in North Africa. He was awarded his second Military Cross for leading an attack on the night of 21 January 1943 down the Tarhuna Pass towards Tripoli which succeeded in driving the enemy back two miles. He later attended the Staff College at Haifa.

North West Europe

Howard was appointed to command the 1st Battalion the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (the 43rd) in 1944.^[2] He led his battalion into the Netherlands, the Ardennes, the Battle of the Reichswald, the Rhine crossing and during the advance across Germany to Hamburg, where it remained until the end of the War in Europe. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the crossing of the River Roer on the border of the Netherlands and Germany.

After the Second World War

In 1946 Howard was appointed to command the 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment in Singapore. He later became second-in-command of the 3rd Hussars in Bielefeld. His final military appointment was as commander of the Tactical Wing at Lulworth, Dorset. He retired from the Army in 1953.

Later life

In 1952 Howard married Jean Parnell, second daughter of the 6th Lord Congleton, with whom he was to have four children. His wife inherited an estate on the Isle of Ulva where he farmed cattle and sheep. He subsequently purchased the neighbouring island of Gometra.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Howard DSO, MC and Bar died on 6 May 2000.

References