Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War M.B.E. group of seven awarded to Major H. C. Howell, Royal Corps of Signals

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type, breast badge; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (Major H. G. [sic] Howell. M.B.E. R. Sigs.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Territorial (Lt. H. C. Howell. M.B.E. R. Sigs.) GSM in named box of issue, remainder mounted, generally very fine (7) £280-£320

M.B.E. London Gazette 21 June 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘This Officer has been Adjutant of this unit since before the campaign started. In a Unit such as this comprising 40 Officers and 1070 OR’s employed in manning the key points on this communication system, such as Repeater Stations, Test Points and Signal Offices, and laying main arteries of communication and providing D.R. facilities, over a very large area, at one time covering 20,000 square miles and necessitating 18 detachments, the amount of work thrown on the Adjutant is very great and is only done with great difficulty due to the distances involved. Not only was the Unit responsible for the communication of 5 area HQs but also the rear communications, first of all to the Armies and latterly to Army Group. This Officer has throughout, shown a devotion to duty and capacity for work of the highest praise and has also by his efforts greatly assisted the Unit to work as a whole and so produce the best results. In particular during the present operation when the threat of attack by parachute troops developed, this Officer showed exceptional zeal and energy in carrying out the necessary measures in all the scattered posts which are the responsibility of the Unit and which were obviously important from the enemy’s point of view as they were all key points in the network of communications.’

Henry Charles Howell was born in Norton, Worcester in June 1920. He enlisted in the ranks of the Royal Corps of Signals in September 1939, served as a Driver, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in February 1942. Howell advanced to Acting Major in July 1945, and subsequently served with the BAOR after the war as well as in a Staff capacity with the MELF from September 1950. He served as Major, Squadron Commander and Operational Officer DG HQ Signal Regiment, MELF, September 1953 - November 1955. Howell died in Fife, Scotland in 2005.

Sold with the following related documents: Officer’s Record of Service, Army Book 439; Soldier’s Service and Pay Book, Army Book 64; Cyprus Motor Driver’s Licence, complete with photograph of recipient; 2 Driving Licences and other ephemera.