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Auction: 22075 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 115

The '1916 Somme Offensive' M.M. and 1969 K. St. J. group of ten awarded to Private E. G. Howells, St. John's Ambulance Brigade, late 47th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Service Corps, whose service with 15th (Scottish) Division won him praise during the Great War later seeing Second War Service with the St. John's Ambulance Brigade and providing valuable contributions to the Sixth Commonwealth Games in 1958 as St. John's Ambulance Area Commissioner

Military Medal, G.V.R. (36949 Pte. E. G. Howells. 47/ F. A. R. A. M. C.); 1914-15 Star (36949. Pte. E. G. Howells. R.A.M.C.); Defence and Victory Medals (36949 Pte. E. G. Howells. R.A.M.C.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; The Most Venerable Order of St. John, Knight of Grace's set of insignia, neck Badge, silver and enamel, in it's fitted case of issue; breast Star, silver and enamel, 70mm; Serving Brother's breast Badge, Silver and enamel, in it's fitted case of issue; Service Medal of the Order of St. John, with seven Long Service clasps (10005 CPS/SH/ E G Howells S. Bridgend & Dis. Cps. Priory for Wales S.J.A.B. 1931.), the campaign and long service medals mounted as worn, contact marks and wear overall, the numbering of the 1914-15 Star worn but legible, overall very fine (10)

M.M. London Gazette 21 December 1916.

K. St. J. London Gazette 25 March 1969.

Ebenezer George Howells, was born at Fishguard, Pembrokeshire in 1897, the son of John and Mary Howells of Fishguard. Having moved to Pontycymmer, Garw Howells worked as a Coal Tipper and became an enthusiatstic volunteer of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade, being the youngest member of the Garw Division. By the outbreak of the Great War Howells decided to put his medical knowledge to good use, joining the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Enlisting with the 47th Field Ambulance, 15th (Scottish) Division he entered the war on 10 July 1915. They saw action at Loos and later saw the effects of the German gas attack at Hullach before coming into the line in preparation for the Somme Offensive. In August 1916 Howell's brother Harry was awarded the M.M. for his bravery in holding his post against heavy attack on 4 July 1916 while serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery.

It was perhaps this familial competition which spurred Howells on to his own acts of Bravery. The recommendation for the award has not survived however Howells was presented with it alongside seven other members of the unit and a Sergeant named Jacobs who was awarded the D.C.M. The citation for this award notes that it is for leadership during the Battle of Contailmason when the strecher party was dazed by shellfire Jacobs led them forward despite the fire to rescue the wounded. It is likely that the awards were either for the same incident or another act during that same engagement.

Regardless he survived his act of valor and went on to serve for the duration of the war. The 47th Field Ambulance served during both notably at Battles of the Scrape, the Arras Offensive and the final battles at the Somme in 1918. By the end of the war he was serving with the 42nd Field Ambulance. Returning to his civilian life Howells threw himself into his work with the St. John's Ambulance and other passions including membership of the Loyal Order of Moose, at the time a social club.

Howells made a Serving Brother of the Order on 25 June 1935 and continued with his work in this capacity in the run up to the Second World War. Howells appears to have served throughout this conflict and is pictured in a group photograph at the Home Office Civil Defence School at Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire also known as the The Ministry of Home Security Air Raid Precautions School. Given his role with the St. John's Ambulance Brigade it is likely Howell's took the course in order to improve his capacity to protect civilian lives during the dark days of the Blitz.

With the end of the war Howell's was promoted first Officer Brother and later Command Brother in 1957. In this role he was serving as Area Commissioner during the Sixth British Empire and Commonwealth Games for which his contribution was noted. Again singled out for special praise in 1962 for the his role in furthering the furtherance of the work of the Priory for Wales. He was finally made a Knight of Grace within the Order on 26 February 1969 as a result of a lifetime of distinguished service, being invested by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 3 March 1971. Howells died on 10 August 1970 and is buried at Pontcymmer Cemetery; sold together copied research including a typed biography, extracts from The Glamorgan Gazette and service details for the 15th Scottish Division along with the War Diary for the 47th Field Ambulance, several London Gazette entries and M.I.C. as well as an impressive archive of original material comprising:

(i)
A number of photographs of the recipient in the uniform of the St. John's Ambulance Brigade.

(ii)
A group photograph of the 47th Field Ambulance.

(iii)
The Investature document for the rank of Serving Brother within the Order of St. John.

(iv)
An order of service for the Investiture of the Knight's of the Order of St. John.

(v)
A corresponding Knight of Grace's dress minature breast Badge in its case of issue

(vi)
St. John's Ambulance Brigade prize medal, silver and enamel named 'E. G. Howells' to the reverse in it's W. J. Thomas box of issue.

(vii) N.U.P.E. Badge of merit in its fitted case of issue.

(viii)
Several Loyal Order of Moose neck Badges.

(ix)
A selection of long service badges and buttons.

(x)
A document of thanks from the Commissions for the Sixth Commonwealth Games.

(xi)
The document of thanks of the people of Garw to Pte. E. G. Howells.

(xii)
An official certificate of thanks presented by the Order of St. John for the Work of recipient in the Priory for Wales.

For the recipient's miniature dress Medals please see the following Lot.

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