HOWDEN, Harold Charles
| Service Numbers: | 1452 (1552 on Attestation), 1452 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 December 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Preston, Victoria, Australia, March 1890 |
| Home Town: | Northcote, Darebin, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Northcote School, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Occupation: | Dental demonstrator |
| Died: | Shrapnel wound to neck, Ploegsteert, Belgium, 5 July 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck, Nord Pas de Calais Plot I, Row U, Grave No. 17 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Northcote Presbyterian Cricket Club Roll of Honor, Northcote Presbyterian Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1452 (1552 on Attestation), 13th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1915: | Involvement Corporal, 1452, 13th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Feb 1915: | Embarked Corporal, 1452, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Sydney | |
| 11 Feb 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 10 Jun 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Corporal, 1452, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Septic wound to hand | |
| 10 Jun 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Jan 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 13th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 12 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 13 Feb 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
| 19 Apr 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Battle for Pozières , Near Pozieres, Captain Howden took over on the night of 5th August, 1916, an isolated position of the front line during a heavy hostile artillery bombardment; being warned by the Officer whom he relieved that he could expect a counter-attack at daylight he immediately set to work to strengthen his position, and when the counter-attack took place on the morning of the 6th, was successful in repulsing it. Owing to his thorough consolidation, that portion of the line, notwithstanding an incessant bombardment, was successfully held. | |
| 4 May 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Major, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Aug 1917: | Honoured Military Cross and bar, 'The Winter Offensive' - Flers/Gueudecourt winter of 1916/17, For gallantry and devotion to duty in reorganising and carrying out two attacks on an enemy’s strong point and trenches at Gueudecourt on the morning of 21/2/17 and night of 22-23/2/17. Owing to the abnormal wet state of the trenches these attacks were carried out under great difficulty and the success of both attacks was largely due to Captain Howden’s organising ability and attention to details. On both occasions, immediately the trenches were captured, Captain Howden took charge and organised their defence. As a result of both operations nearly 500 yards of enemy’s trenches were captured and held, and 60 prisoners taken. |
Major Harold Charles Howden (M.C. and Bar)
Posted by ww1research, Thursday, 14 August 2014
"I asked if he was hit and he replies "Yes" and got up walking towards me. After taking five or six steps he suddenly became very pale and collapsed. I undid his tunic and saw blood pouring in great quantities from a small wound just below his collar bone. A small shell fragment had passed up beneath his collar bone severing the large blood vessels situated there ... he lived for about an hour and retained consciousness until the end, surrounded by his friend. I never saw a man die so bravely ..." (letter from Captain A. J. Collins, France, 3.10.17)
Major Harold Charles Howden was a son of Charles Alexander Howden, Shire of Preston Councillor for the Central Riding for many years and a successful real estate agent in High Street before removing the business to Collins Street, Melbourne.
Howden was an exemplary serviceman, enlisting as a humble Private and promoted through the ranks to Major, along the way being awarded the Military Cross and Bar for bravery before dying of wounds at Steenwerck, France on 5 July, 1917.
His death attracted more attention in the Preston Leader than any other, almost a full column of tributes. Parents Charles Alexander and Lily Margaret Howden (nee Thomson)
Submitted 28 March 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Charles Alexander Howden and Lily Margaret Howden, of "Northcote," The Crescent, Vaucluse, New South Wales.
HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE MOTHER
MILITARY CROSS.
Residents of Northcote will be pleased to learn that Captain H. C. Howden has been awarded the Military Cross for effective service and bravery. After heartily congratulating Captain Howden for the distinction he had gained and for the good work he did near Pozieres, General Birdwood writes:-"The way in which you consolidated the portion of the line which you were holding, not withstanding the incessant bombard ment and the fact that you were in such an isolated position, is worthy of all praise, and resulted in your beating off an attack which took place the following morning." Our young officer received the rank of 2nd lieutenant in August 1915, lieutenant January 1916, and his captaincy the March following. He is associated with the 1st Anzac corps, is 26 years of age, and is the son of Mrs. Howden, of Cunningham street, formerly of Preston. We congratulate our young townsman, and wish him continued success and immunity from the horrors of war.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
Mr. F. C. Garner, of Bondi, has received information that his brother-in-law, Major H. C. Howden, M.C., late representative in Sydney for Messrs. De Trey and Co., has died of wounds. Major Howden saw two and a half years of active service in Gallipoli and in Egypt and France.
GALLANT AUSTRALIANS.
BRAVE YOUNG OFFICER FALLS
It will be learned with deep regret that Major Harold Charles Howden, M.C., has died of wounds in France. This young officer was born in Preston and spent his boyhood in Northcote, where his mother now resides, in Cunningham street. His career as a soldier has been exceptionally brilliant. Enlisting two and a half years ago he went away as a corporal, gained his lieutenancy at Gallipoli, and for his gallantry at Pozieres was awarded the Militay Cross and promoted to the rank of captain. Since then a bar has been added to his Military Cross and he has been made major. The deepest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Howden and her daughters in the loss of such a gallant son and brother. In a letter received from the late Major Howden on Thursday he mentions having spent the evening prior to his writing with Roy Hayes and Eddie Brown, two well known Northcote boys.
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