HOWARD, THOMAS WALTER JOHN WRIGHT,
Lieutenant, was born at Sheen, Surrey, in 1865. He was educated at
Winchester (and Middle Temple), and served in the Bechuanaland Border
Police, and took part in the Matabele War in 1893. He volunteered to
ascertain the fate of Alan Wilson's party, Shanghani River. In 1896 he
served during the Matabele Rebellion (Despatches; Medal with clasp), and he
joined Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry at the beginning of the Boer War,
being dangerously wounded at Spion Kop, and, for gallantry in the field, was
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19
April, 1901]: "T W Howard, Lieutenant, Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The
Insignia, Warrant and Statutes were sent to the Commander-in-Chief in South
Africa and presented there. His Christian name was afterwards given
correctly in the official records. He served in the Zululand Rebellion
(Natal Decoration) in 1906.
In 1914 he embarked on a cycle journey from Bulawayo to Cairo
and by August he had reached German East Africa. In consequence of the
outbreak of the war, he was interned and not released until 1917, when he
sailed for England and joined the 10th County of London Regiment, but did
not serve overseas. He returned to prospecting and mining in South
Africa and subsequently Rhodesia, where in 1929 he was re-appointed a JP for
Bulawayo. He was a member of the contingent sent by the Pioneer
societies to London for the Coronation in 1937, for which he received the
medal. Major Walter Howard died in Bulawayo on 22 January 1941. He
married, in 1880, Lizzie Amelia (who died in 1905), daughter of G Huddy.
DSO, BSAC Medal
for Matabeleland Rhodesia 1896 (Tpr Raafs Column), QSA (2) Rhod (not
entitled) RofL (LT DSO TMI), KSA (2) (renamed/not entitled), Natal (1) 1906 (Tpr Natal Carb), BWM, Victory Medal (both renamed/not entitled) 1937
Coronation.
DNW Apr 2001
£6,000. Miniature medals DNW Sep 00 £220.
