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Auction: 22101 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 395

Three: Private C. Howard, 175th Company, Pioneer Corps, who died of dysentery as a Prisoner of War of the Japanese on 27 November 1942

1939-45 Star; Pacfic Star; War Medal 1939-45, with Army Council condolence slip in the name of 'Pte. C. Howard' and with box of issue addressed to 'Mr J. Howard, 50 Thornton Rd, Bootle, L'pool 20.', good very fine (3)

Charles Howard, son of Joseph and Annie, was born in 1920 and played football for the Mersey Wanderers and worked for the Liverpool Gas Company. During the Second World War he served in either 1 or 2 Platoon, 175th Company, Pioneer Corps in the Far East. His unit served with distinction on the island of Sumatra, assisting the 'Aussie' Division in its retreat and partial escape back to Fremantle via the Zamdaam on 1 March 1942. 1 and 2 Platoons at some point became detatched from 4 Group HQ and were all taken Prisoners of War at Bendoeng (now Bandung), Java in October 1942.

Initially held at Changi, he was thence transported to Japan aboard the Singapore Maru, suffering terribly with dysentery, the last was heard of him on 27 November 1942. His parents were informed of his death in May 1946 (Liverpool Echo, 31 May 1946, refers), Howard being commemorated upon the Singapore Memorial.

For details of the actions of 175th Company, see The Pioneer, April 2015 via:

http://www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/rpc/newsletters/2015_April_Newsletter.pdf

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£50