HOWARD, GEOFFREY WESTON, Lieutenant,
was born 14 December 1876 third son of Henry Howard, of Stone House,
Worcester. He entered the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Essex Regiment
1 December 1897, and was promoted Lieutenant 29 January 1901. He was ADC to
Major General South Africa, from 5 March
1900 to 21 July 1908, and
served in the South African War, 1899-1902. He took part in the Relief of
Kimberley; was present during the operations in the Orange Free State,
February to May 1900 including those at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February);
actions at Poplar Grove and Driefontein; in the Transvaal in May and June,
1900, including action near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and
12 June); in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900,
including action at Belfast (28 and 27 August); in Cape Colony, south of
Orange River, 1899-1900 including; actions at Colesberg (1 January to 12
February) (Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901, and 29 July 1902];
Queen's Medal with six clasps and King's Medal with two clasps). He was
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31
October 1902]: "Geoffrey Weston Howard, Lieutenant, Essex Regiment. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He became
Captain 25 December 1907, and was appointed GSO3, Malta, 25 April 1914.
Captain Howard served in the European War from 1914 to 1918. He held the
appointment of Brigade Major, 48th Infantry Brigade, New Armies, BEF, 22
April 1915 to 5 February 1916. He was promoted Major 1 September 1915; was
GSO2, 2nd Army, BEF, British Armies in France, 6 February to 11 August 1916;
GSO2, 24th Division, British Armies in France, 12 August to 14 October 1916;
was Temporary Lieutenant Colonel from 15 October 1916, until given the
Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 3 June 1917; and GSO1, 7th Division, British
Armies in France. British Force in Italy, 15 October 1916 to 8 October
1918; Temporary Brigadier General, 9 October 1918 to 3 March 1919, while
Brigade Commander of the 145th Infantry Brigade, British Force in Italy; was
given the Brevet of Colonel 3 June 1919. He was mentioned in Despatches
seven times, and was made a CMG in 1919. He married, in 1905, Meta Minnie Gregory.
