49 Facts About Philip Howell

Brigadier-General Philip Howell, was a senior British Army staff officer during the First World War.

Philip Howell was, successively, Brigadier General, General Staff to the Cavalry Corps and then to X Corps.

Philip Howell had been in action on the front line since the outbreak of the war, serving with the British Expeditionary Force, and commanding the 4th Queen's Own Hussars through the retreat from Mons, the Battle of Le Cateau, the Marne offensive, Hill 60, and the First Battle of Ypres.

Philip Howell was mentioned in despatches six times, and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1915 for "meritorious service".

Philip Howell's interests were more extensive than soldiering, and he travelled throughout the Balkan region, becoming a correspondent for The Times and an expert on the local politics of the Near East.

Lieutenant General Sir Claud Jacob, is quoted as saying that much of what his II Corps achieved during the Somme was owed to Philip Howell's efforts, and in fact he had left much of the daily command to Philip Howell, who was a man of exceptional capability.

Philip Howell was born in England on 7 December 1877, the second son of Lieutenant Colonel Horace Howell, late the Punjab Frontier Force, and Ella Howell, from Shepshed, Leicestershire.

Philip Howell's mother had died prematurely from a long illness in August 1889.

Philip Howell attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, passing out with honours, and was commissioned second lieutenant on the unattached list of the Indian Army on 4 August 1897.

Philip Howell then served as a subaltern in his father's former regiment, the 5th Punjab Cavalry, in India, from 1898 to 1900.

Philip Howell was a natural with the native troops, taking the trouble to know their language and culture, and respected by them for his professionalism as a soldier.

Philip Howell equally gained the confidence of the local Pathan tribesmen, of whom he had a natural curiosity and talent for dialogue.

In 1902 the Corps of Guides won the Cavalry Reconnaissance Competition, in which Philip Howell was the patrol commander.

Philip Howell had a lifelong love of animals, and "adored mischief in animals, as he did children".

Ever loyal, Philip Howell never deflected from his support for Haig in his enterprise during the First World War, whom he perceived to be the best man for the job and infinitely better suited to lead than most of the contemporary generals of the time.

Philip Howell had begun to use his leave for travel, extensively in the Balkan region since 1903.

Philip Howell became a special correspondent for The Times, sending in contributions to Charles Moberly Bell, the editor.

Philip Howell was promoted to captain in August 1906, and was given the job of Intelligence Officer for the North West Frontier region, where his intuitive knowledge of local Pathan politics played their part.

In 1909, Philip Howell was brigade major to Major General Sir Malcolm Grover in India.

Between 1909 and 1911 Philip Howell served as a GSO3 staff officer to the Inspector-General of Cavalry, British Army at the War Office in London, with frequent intermittent visits to the Balkans, as special correspondent with The Times.

Shortly before this, in 1908, Philip Howell first met his future wife, Rosalind Upcher Buxton, at her family home at Fritton Hall, Lowestoft, Norfolk.

Philip Howell was a member of the notable slave trade abolitionist Buxton family, and had travelled extensively in Turkey and the Levant.

In December 1911, Philip Howell was appointed by Major General William Robertson as a senior instructor at the Staff College, Camberley with the additional title of "Professor of Military Studies".

Philip Howell was promoted to temporary major while employed in this role.

On 14 May 1913 Philip Howell was promoted major in the 4th Hussars, as second-in-command, then based at The Curragh in Ireland.

Philip Howell drafted a letter to the Army Council, on behalf of the officers, and its brigade commander, Hubert Gough.

Philip Howell's efforts were further extended by his writing a personal letter to The Times in which he denounced the fact that soldiers had been asked to choose between their own political conscience and their duty to serve, in an impossible ultimatum.

Philip Howell posed the question that there had been a deliberate effort by the politicians to pass off the decision on to the Army.

Philip Howell led the 4th Hussars throughout the remainder of the advance of First Battle of Marne, and then in the following ten months through the frontline carnage of the First Battle of Ypres, Hill 60, and Neuve Chappelle.

Philip Howell was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in February 1915 for "meritorious service during the war" and had by this stage of the war been mentioned in despatches no less than four times.

In March 1915 Philip Howell was appointed Brigadier General, General Staff to the Cavalry Corps under Lieutenant General Edmund Allenby.

Philip Howell was transferred to the more active role of Chief of Staff of X Corps under the command of Lieutenant General Thomas Morland.

Philip Howell approved of Morland, who he perceived to be one of the youngest Corps commanders and therefore more receptive to new more practical ideas.

Philip Howell knew and appreciated from direct experience that Bulgaria had a better equipped and trained army than neighboring forces, especially those of a depleted Serbia or an indiscipline military "rabble" from within a Greece split between a pro-German monarchy and nationalist government loyalists.

Philip Howell himself said "take away Bulgaria and the whole German pack of cards falls to pieces", referring to German ambitions in the Near East, but in a wider context.

In October 1915, Philip Howell was sent to Salonica as BGGS to XII Corps under General Wilson.

However, as matters progressed towards a Balkan offensive the British Salonica Army was created from XII Corps and the new XVI Corps, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Sir Bryan Mahon, and Philip Howell was appointed as his chief of staff.

Philip Howell returned to the Western Front during the impending build up for the Battle of the Somme, which had been brought forward in time, and with a reduced French role, by French pressure on the new British commander in chief, General Douglas Haig, to relieve the attrition being sustained at Verdun.

Philip Howell was appointed chief of staff and second-in-command to II Corps which after being held in reserve on the first day became part of General Sir Hubert Gough's Reserve Army.

Philip Howell was never to see the completion of these offensives which included the final capture of Thiepval.

Philip Howell was a frequent visitor to frontline trenches, and to make personal observations so that he could be sure of undistorted facts.

Philip Howell received some approbation in the published obituaries and letters published in journals.

Philip Howell performed exceptionally good service at Salonica under difficult and complicated conditions.

At the time of his death Philip Howell was 38, and one of the youngest British generals of the time.

Philip Howell corresponded with Douglas Haig throughout his life, but had enjoyed the friendship of Lloyd George, a future prime minister.

Philip Howell was a regular correspondent with Gertrude Bell, and counted many literary and artistic figures as his friends.

Philip Howell married Rosalind Upcher Buxton of Fritton Hall, Lowestoft, Norfolk.

Philip Howell came from a family of means, firmly embedded in the liberal establishment.

Philip Howell is buried in the War Cemetery at Varennes, France.