George Julian Howell

Infobox Military Person
name= George Julian Howell


caption= Howell (right) receives his decorations during an investure from King George V on 21 July 1917.
born= 19 November 1893
died= 23 December 1964
placeofbirth= Enfield, New South Wales
placeofdeath= Perth, Western Australia
nickname= "Snowy"
allegiance= flagicon|Australia Commonwealth of Australia
branch= Australian Imperial Force
serviceyears= 1915 – 1918 1940 – 1945
rank= Staff Sergeant
unit=
commands=
battles= First World War
*Gallipoli Campaign
*Western Front
*Battle of the Somme
*Battle of Pozières
*Battle of Arras
Second World War
awards= Victoria Cross Military Medal
relations=
laterwork=

George Julian "Snowy" Howell VC, MM (19 November 1893 – 23 December 1964) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

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.cite web|url=http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A090382b.htm|title=Howell, George Julian (1893 - 1964)|accessdaymonth=25 September|accessyear=2008|author=W. H. Connell|work=Australian Dictionary of Biography|publisher=Melbourne University Press] Becoming a builder, he was employed in his native Enfield area of Sydney.Harvnb|Staunton|2005|p=85]

First World War

On 3 June 1915, Howell enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force for service in the First World War. Allotted to the 7th Reinforcements of the 1st Battalion as a private, he embarked from Sydney for Egypt on 14 July aboard HMAT "Orsova". [cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm8/23_18_2/pdf/0114.pdf|title=George Julian Howell|accessdaymonth=4 October|accessyear=2008|format=PDF|work=First World War Embarkation Roll|publisher=Australian War Memorial] Joining the 1st Battalion at Gallipoli on 1 November, Howell served on the peninsula until the Allied evacuation the following month. Returning to Egypt, the battalion spent several months training in the desert in preparation for service on the Western Front.Harvnb|Gliddon|2000|p=160]

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, Yorkshire, England, during early August, Howell attended a training school before returning to his battalion on 26 November. Promoted to lance corporal on 10 December, he was appointed corporal on 6 February 1917.

He was 23 years old, and a corporal in the 1st Battalion, (N.S.W), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 May 1917, near Bullecourt, France, seeing that a party of the enemy were likely to outflank his battalion, Corporal Howell, on his own initiative and exposed to heavy bomb and rifle fire, climbed to the top of the parapet and bombed the enemy, pressing them back along the trench. When his stock of bombs was exhausted, he continued the attack with his bayonet, but was then severely wounded. This prompt and gallant action was seen by the whole battalion and inspired them in the subsequent successful counter-attack.

Notes

References

*Citation|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|year=2000|title=Arras & Messines 1917|series=VCs of the First World War|publication-place=Sparkford, England|publisher=Wrens Park Publishing|isbn=0-905-778-618
*Citation|last=Staunton|first=Anthony|year=2005|title=Victoria Cross: Australia's Finest and the Battles they Fought|publication-place=Prahran, Victoria, Australia|publisher=Hardie Grant Books|isbn=1-74066-288-1

External links

* [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-vc/howell-vc.htm Digger History] - Howell VC