Australian Groups

Lot 5561    Session 18 (2.30pm Friday)    Australian Groups

Estimate $650,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $600,000

GROUP OF ELEVEN: Victoria Cross; Military Medal (GVR); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal 1937; Coronation Medal 1953; U.S.A. Pacific War Zone Medal; U.S.A. Merchant Marine WWII Victory Medal. On reverse of VC, on suspension bar, No. 2445 Cpl. G.J.Howell. 1st Bn. Aus. Imp. Force., and in centre, 6. May. 1917., 2445 Cpl.G.J.Howell. 1/Aust:Inf: on second medal, 2445 Pte G.J.Howell. 1/Bn. A.I.F. on third medal, Cpl. G.J.Howell. 1 Bn. A.I.F. on fourth and fifth medals, the sixth - eleventh medals unnamed. The Victoria Cross engraved, the second - fifth medals impressed. Stored in a custom made timber case, court mounted extremely fine.

Together with certificates to George Julian Howell for award of: (1) U S Army Sea Duty Ribbon; (2) The Merchant Marine Combat Bar; (3) Pacific War Zone Bar; (4) Philippine Defense Ribbon; (5) Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Also included are numerous photos, documents, transcripts of published material on Corporal Howell's deeds, newspaper cuttings and other research material. VC: LG 27/6/1917 p6382, posn 1; CAG 11/10/1917 p2663, posn 95. Citation: `For conspicuous bravery. Seeing a party of the enemy who were likely to outflank his battalion, Corporal 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 non-commissioned officer in the face of superior numbers was witnessed by the whole battalion and greatly inspired them in the subsequent successful counter-attack. MM: LG 26/5/1917 p5196, posn 36; CAG 11/10/1917 p2662, posn 67. Citation: `His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the Field to the undermentioned non-commissioned officer :- No.2445 Corporal G.J.Howell' Recommendation for VC authorized by Brig Gen Bennett GOC 1st Australian Division on 14/5/1917: `For gallantry, fearlessness and initiative on 6th May 1917 in trench O.G.1 near Bullecourt, France, part of which this Battalion was holding. The enemy attacked the Battalion which was occupying the trench on our right and succeeded in driving them from the trench and were approaching our right flank. Corporal Howell seeing this, without orders, immediately jumped up on the parapet and then singlehanded, though subjected to heavy bomb and rifle fire, threw bombs at the enemy and advanced on them at the same time. Having exhausted his supply of bombs he advanced along the top of the parapet and attacked the enemy with his bayonet until he fell wounded into the trench. Seeing Howell's action other men had come forward to support him and the enemy were finally driven out of the trench which was again occupied and held, being taken over later by the Battalion who had formerly occupied it. Howell's action in stemming the tide of advance of the enemy and forcing them to draw back enabled the organization of the counter-attack which was immediately launched and drove the Germans from the position. His action was witnessed not only by the whole of his Battalion but also by the Battalion occupying O.G.2. Apart from its great value tactically, his example had a great effect in inspiring other men and undoubtedly was greatly responsible for the enemy's being driven back immediately, though it was some time before they were driven out of the whole position. Furthermore the bravery of Corporal Howell on the above occasion has been the topic of conversation in this and neighbouring Battalions of the Brigade, both officers and men. He has done previous good work and has already won the Military Medal. His wound has proved a very serious one.' Recommendation for MM authorized by GOC 1st Australian Division on 16/4/1917: `At Demicourt on 9th April 1917 for courage and devotion to duty displayed while leading his rifle bombing section in the operation against the German position. On several occasions when held up by machine gun fire he overcame the opposition by sound offensive tactics and good use of his weapons, and continued to advance. He with his section, was in the lead throughout, and was of great assistance to his Company in the capture of its objectives.' George Julian `Snowy' Howell was born on 19 November 1893 at Enfield, an inner western suburb of Sydney. He was the fourth son of Francis John Howell, a carpenter who migrated to Australia from Brighton in England, and his Sydney born wife Martha (n?e Sweeny). He attended schools in the immediate area, namely Croydon Park Public School and Burwood Public School before entering into a bricklaying apprenticeship with a bricklayer from the suburb of Campsie about 5 kilometres from Enfield. Snowy joined the AIF on 3 June 1915 and shortly after, on 14 July, embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Orsova for Egypt as a member of the 7th Reinforcements for the 1st Battalion. He was taken on strength of the 1st Battalion at Gallipoli on 1 November 1915 serving there until the mass Allied evacuation in the next month of December. He then proceeded to Egypt with his unit which underwent some months of training before moving to France in March 1916 in readiness for going into action on the Western Front. Shortly after Howell was in action with the 1st Battalion in the Fromelles sector and in July 1916 he was wounded in the Battle of Pozi…res during the Somme offensive and was transferred to England for treatment. While in England, Snowy attended a training school before returning to his unit on 26 November. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 10 December 1916 and then to full Corporal on 6 February 1917. Two months later he was engaged with his Battalion in an attack on the German held village of Demicourt and it was here on the 9th April 1917 that George was awarded the Military Medal for his courage and devotion to duty while leading a rifle bombing section during the capture of Demicourt. Corporal George Howell was now in the thick of the fighting and at Bullecourt the Allies were engaged in some of the heaviest fighting of the war as they attacked the Hindenburg Line. It was during this intense battle on 6 May 1917, near Bullecourt, that Corporal Howell was to receive the Victoria Cross. During this battle, Howell realized that a large party of Germans advancing in a trench was going to outflank his battalion so, despite already having machine gun wounds in both legs, he climbed onto the parapet and in the face of heavy bomb attacks and rifle fire he proceeded to reign bombs down onto the Germans and when the bombs ran out he used his bayonet until he dropped severely wounded. When brought in for medical attention he was found to have at least twenty eight wounds and was hospitalized in England. On 21 July 1917 Cpl Howell was invested personally with his decorations by King George V in the front courtyard of Buckingham Palace along with 31 other VC recipients that included five other Australians, namely Capt Newland, Sgt Whittle, L/Cpl Kenny and Ptes Jensen and O'Meara. The open air presentation was at the specific request of His Majesty who wanted the public to witness the ceremony and the Queen and Princess Mary were on the balcony over the central gateway and watched proceedings throughout. Subsequently George was promoted to Sergeant and because of his war injuries he was returned to Australia on 31 October 1917 aboard HMAT Berrima and then on 5 June 1918 was discharged from the AIF on medical grounds. On 1 March 1919 he married a Sydney nurse, Sadie Lillian Yates, at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Sydney and then settled in the Sydney seaside suburb of Coogee. He worked on the advertising staff of Smith's Newspapers Ltd and then the Bulletin Newspaper and by 1933 he was the New South Wales representative for the Brisbane Standard and the Queensland Worker. Soon after WWII started, Snowy joined the Australian Army on 5 October 1939 and was allotted service number N69450 and taken on strength of 2nd Garrison Battalion located at Victoria Barracks, Paddington. Shortly after, on 17 December 1939, he was discharged as Services No Longer Required as he was sole support of dependents. He then rejoined on 25 June 1940 and allotted service number N75435 being posted to HQ Eastern Command, also at Victoria Barracks. On posting he was classified as Specialist III and then on 16 October 1940 he was promoted to Corporal. However, he found the work very boring and applied for and was granted discharge on 12 February 1941. Six months later George Howell joined the United States Army Sea Transport Service serving as a merchant seaman aboard tug ST131 and in this role he participated in the invasion of Leyte at the commencement of the United States campaign against the Japanese occupation of The Philippines. Records indicate that the ST131 under Captain Norman Philpott travelled from Hollandia to San Pedro Bay, Philippines, towing two barges loaded with high octane fuel, October - November 1944, arriving three days after D-Day landings. The ST131 survived suicide bombers and monsoon and, as well as Snowy Howell, the crew included another WWI veteran, Scotty Martieth. For his service with the United States he was awarded the US Army Sea Duty Ribbon, The Merchant Marine Combat Bar, Pacific War Zone Bar (later supplemented with a medal), Philippine Defense Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and also the United States Merchant Marine WWII Victory Medal. After the war George resumed his civilian life until his wife passed away in December 1953. He then moved to Perth to live with his married daughter, Norma. He also lived for a short time in Gunyidi via Watheroo before returning to Perth. In 1956 he attended the Centenary VC celebrations in London. George Julian `Snowy' Howell died at the Repatriation General Hospital, Hollywood, Perth on 23 December 1964. He received a funeral with full military honours, was cremated and his ashes interred at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth. His name is commemorated by a plaque in the Western Australian Garden of Remembrance. His name is also recorded on the War Memorial erected near the corner of Coronation Parade and Liverpool Road at Enfield to commemorate the local men who served with the AIF in WWI. "The Howell" Soldiers Club of the Australian Army Canteens Service at Randwick, a suburb nearby to his post WWI home suburb of Coogee is named in his honour. Howell Street in the Victorian suburb of Lalor is also named in his honour.