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Auction: 9033 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals & Militaria
Lot: 23

A Good Great War ´March 1916´ D.C.M. Group of Five to Company Quarter Master Sergeant J.A. Howard, East Surrey Regiment, Later Lieutenant, Home Guard, Wounded on the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1.7.1916 a) Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (G.8-5235 Sjt: J.A. Howard. 8/E. Surr: R.) b) 1914-15 Star (5235 Sjt. J.A. Howard. E. Surr: R.) c) British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oakleaves (5235 C. Sjt. J.A. Howard. E. Surr. R.) d) Defence Medal, this loose in card box of issue, generally good very fine, with the Great War related miniature awards and the following related items: - Enclosure slip for the Defence Medal - Royal Life Saving Society Award of Merit, gilt and enamel medal, the reverse engraved ´J.A. Howard 1948´, with related fabric badge - Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Cross, bronze, the reverse engraved ´J.A. Howard Sept. 1948´, with related fabric patch - Royal Life Saving Society Medal, bronze, the reverse engraved ´J.A. Howard July 1942´ - Certificate for the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Ipswich, bestowed upon John Alfred Howard, D.C.M., dated 24.3.1920, in commemorative box of issue - Comrades of the Great War Certificate, named to C.Q.M.S. J.A. Howard, dated 6.6.1918 - Letter to the recipient from Major General F.J. Maxse, Commanding 18th Division, regarding his gallant action that led to the award of the D.C.M. - Army Cadet Force Certificate, named to R.Q.M.S. J.A. Howard, dated 1.1.1947 - Two related newspaper cuttings (5) Estimate £ 800-1,000 D.C.M. London Gazette 16.5.1916 G.8/5235 Sjt. J.A. Howard, 8th Bn., E. Surr. R. ´For conspicuous gallantry. When his picquet was forced for the moment to fall back before a very superior number of the enemy and a counter-attack was ordered, he displayed great bravery. Though fired at by a sentry at 15 yards, he shot him dead and got his men over a plank bridge. His fine example carried the men forward, and the enemy were driven back. He personally captured an unwounded prisoner.´ 5235 Company Quarter Master Sergeant John Alfred Howard, D.C.M., born 1890, the son of Mr. A.W. Howard, of Dennington, Suffolk; in civilian life worked for the London Motor Garage Company; enlisted in the 8th (Service) Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, 7.9.1914; served with the Regiment in France from July 1915. On the 1st March, 1916, the Fourth Army, under General Sir Henry Rawlinson, came officially into existence, taking over a twenty-mile front line from the Somme to Fonquevillers, and the 8th East Surrey were transferred to this Army´s XIII Corps, as part of the 55th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division, under the Command of Major-General F.I. Maxse. The next four months were primarily involved with preparations for the main Somme Offensive, with the 18th Division positioned immediately on the north bank of the Somme. During the night of the 20th-21st March, the enemy launched an attack against the Allied positions at Vaux, which was successfully repulsed, and for this action Howard was awarded the D.C.M., and was soon promoted to Company Quarter Master Sergeant, 3.4.1916. Battle of the Somme On the First Day of the Battle of the Somme, 1.7.1916, Howard´s Battalion was detailed to attack the enemy positions between Talus Boise and the Carnoy-Montauban road towards Montauban Ridge. Having been in the area since March, the units knew the geography and terrain well. There had been mine fighting in May on the Carnoy front, resulting in a large number of small craters which covered a width of about 150 metres in No Man´s Land close to the Carnoy-Montauban road. The Germans here had withdrawn from the front line after filling it with barbed wire and spiked stakes, and held the support line; but they continued to occupy some of the craters, in which they had built dug-outs, with a few machine guns and snipers. A party of the 55th Brigade was to clear and occupy the crater zone, assisted by a large flame projector under the direction of Major W.H. Livens, Royal Engineers, allowing the rest of the Brigade to advance to the east on the enemy trenches. The bombardment of the crater zone had not, however, destroyed its garrison, and although the flame projector on the western side of it successfully stifled resistance there, the eastern side was not affected, and the clearing party was unable to force an entry. At 7:27 a.m. the front line of the Brigade, composed of the 8th East Surrey and 7th Queen´s was ordered to advance. ´B´ Company on the left was led by Captain W.P. Nevill, who had provided each platoon with a football. Special permission to go forward kicking the footballs into action in No Man´s Land had been obtained, under the proviso that proper formation and distance had to be kept. The first ball was kicked by Captain Nevill, and the two leading platoons moved forward towards the enemy´s Breslau Trench some 400 yards ahead. Machine gun fire from craters to the left cut down the leading waves, and the confusion and delay which ensued gave the Germans time to man and reinforce their front trench, and their rifle fire for a long time was very heavy. Captain Nevill´s body, along with two of the footballs, was found just outside the German wire. It was only through the advance of neighbouring Brigades, threatening the enemy´s line of retreat, that the German defence began to weaken, with a number of the enemy retiring to Montauban. The 8th East Surrey was then able to get bombing parties forward into the enemy trench just short of its objective, but by this time the three leading companies had lost all their officers bar one, and it was difficult to organize a further advance. But due to the success of the rest of the XIII Corps, all the day´s objectives were taken. The Battalion suffered 446 casualties on the 1st July, including Howard, who was wounded in the leg during the advance; he was invalided home, and transferred to Easton Park Hospital, Suffolk. Howard was presented with his D.C.M. at Easton Park Hospital by Major-General R.N.R. Reade, C.B., in the presence of Her Grace the Duchess of Hamilton. ´After reading the particulars of C.Q.M.S. Howard´s brave deed, the General read a letter sent by Major-General F.J. Maxse to the recipient of the medal, in which he stated: "I had read with great pleasure the report of your regimental commander and brigade commander regarding your gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on 20th-21st March 1916." The General said that it was a great honour for him to be there that day to represent the King in performing the duty of bestowing the decoration on the gallant winner, and he considered it was an honour to all in Suffolk to have such a man among them. He trusted that he would live long to wear his honour, as honour which would be shared by his family.´ (Newspaper cutting included with lot refers). After the War Howard served as the first Hon. Secretary of the Comrades of the Great War Club from its formation in October 1918; the Club was eventually incorporated with the British Legion. Settling in Ipswich, he joined the staff of Ransomes, Sims, and Jefferies, Ltd., and later became steward at Ipswich Aerodrome, as well as being involved with the Suffolk Regiment´s Army Cadet Force. During the Second World War he served as a Lieutenant in the 9th Home Guard.

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