Six: Quarter-Master & Captain S. J. How, Royal Army Medical Corps, who served in the American hospital ship Maine during the Boer War and the Boxer Rebellion - and gained a “mention” from Lord Roberts

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Natal (8223 S. Major S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); China 1900, no clasp (8223 Serjt.-Maj. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); 1914-15 Star (Q.M. & Lieut. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Q.M. & Lieut. S. J. How); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (8223 S. Sjt. Mjr. S. J. How, R.A.M.C.), very fine and better (6) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barrett J. Carr Collection of Boer War Medals.

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Around 10 members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade received the Queen’s South Africa Medal, and around 15 of them the China Medal, for services in the American hospital ship Maine. But only around six members of the R.A.M.C. likewise qualified, the whole under Major James Meek and Sergeant-Major How.

The Maine was originally the Atlantic Transport Line steamer Swansea, renamed in 1899 and lent to the British Government as a hospital ship for use in the Boer War and later off China during the Boxer Rebellion. Fitted out as a hospital ship in London by Messrs. Fletcher & Son and Fearnall Ltd., the costs were met by the American Ladies Hospital Ship Fund who struck a special medal to help with their fund raising.

Stanley James How was one of just eight members of the medical staff employed in the Maine to be mentioned in Lord Roberts’ despatch on 1 March 1902, he and Major Meek being the only members of the R.A.M.C. so honoured. Having been placed on retired pay in July 1914, How was recalled on the outbreak of hostilities and was appointed a Quarter-Master and Lieutenant in November 1914, and subsequently gained advancement to Q.M. & Captain in November 1917. Accompanying research further states that he was killed at the Curragh Military Hospital, Dublin in 1919.