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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 188

The unique 'Nigeria 1918' D.C.M. group of six awarded to Colour-Sergeant P. C. Howell, Rifle Brigade, later Warrant Officer, Royal Air Force

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (2357 Sjt: P. C. Howell. 6/Rif: Brig:); 1914 Star, clasp (2357 Pte. P. Howell. 3/Rif: Brig:); British War and Victory Medals (2357 C-Sjt. P. C. Howell. Rif. Brig.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, contact marks, very fine (6)

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 March 1919:

'On 3rd August, 1918, Serjeant Howell, when proceeding to the town of Gumlanja, was attacked, and had to order his escort to open fire in self-defence. In the fighting that ensued it is estimated that seven natives were killed and four wounded.'

Percival Charles Howell was born at Newmarket, Cambridgeshire on 5 March 1891 and joined the Rifle Brigade at Bradford-on-Avon in October 1907. During the Great War Howell served in France with the 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade from 10 September 1914 and thence in the Cameroons (MIC code 4C) from 5 August 1915, attached to the 2nd Battalion, Nigeria Regiment. It was whilst in West Africa that he earned the unique distinction to his unit, that being a D.C.M. for the operations in Nigeria, during the little-known Adubi War (Egba Uprising). During the campaign he also suffered Malaria, for which a 40% pension was issued.

With the outbreak of the Second World War, Howell 'invented' himself to have been born eight years after his actual date of birth in order to join the Royal Air Force on 2 July 1940. Appointed Acting Warrant Officer by September 1941, he was made Temporary Warrant Officer the following month and served variously at Blackpool, Rollstone, West Raynham, Sculthorpe and Andover, being discharged on 23 June 1945; sold together with Soldier's Small Book, Passport for his time in Africa, Royal Air Force Service and Release Book, Certificates of Service, identity tag, Certificate for the D.C.M., several photographs of the recipient during his career, riband bars, a series of African postcards and copied research.

For his miniature dress medals, please see Lot 360.

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Estimate
£1,600 to £2,000

Starting price
£1500