| Surname: | Howells |
| Initials: | I S |
| Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Army Number: | 655 |
| Notes: | MMP. 20/10/1899 he enlisted in the 21 Lancers, No. 4519, age 21.10 years, born Canton, Cardiff, occupation Seaman, address: 25 Romilly Crescent, Canton, Cardiff, 9/9/1900 transferred to 16 Lancers, No. 4603, 27/10/1905 transferred to MMP, 19/10/1907 transferred to the Labour Corps, 19/10/1911 discharged time expired after 12 years. Served home 20/10/1899 to 11/9/1900, South Africa 12/9/1900, 9/11/1904, Home 10/11/1904 to 19/10/1911 time expired. Address; C/O The Post Office, Peterboro, Ontario. Canada. 1/11/1906 he was summoned by Civil Power (Farnham, Surrey) and convicted of feloniously stealing a quantity of potatoes and two sacks, value 5/- on 1/11/1906. Undergoing sentence of imprisonment with Hard Labour from 1/11/1906, sentence expires 31/12/1906. 1/1/1907 to duty. A statement found in his Army Record for a Court of Enquiry into an injury to his knees: 1st Evidence. No. 4603 L/Cpl I J Howells, 17th Lancers, Huts at Middleburg on 26th December, 1903 at about 8.30pm I was leaving the Corporals Mess and owing to the floor being out of repair, my right foot caught in a hole throwing me to the ground and spraining both knees. The hole was caused by a broken board in the flooring. the end of the room where the hole was, was very badly lighted. A further letter in his army record from the DAAG, Aldershot Army Coy to the Provost Marshal, HQ Aldershot, dated 21/11/1908 reads: Your action in allowing the retention in the service and of permanent rank of Corporal Nicholls and Lance Corporal Howells, Military Mounted Police is approved as a special case on the following grounds. 1. The sentence awarded these men being unduly severe for first offenders. 2. The previous exemplary character of them. 3. The imprisonment undergone by these men will have the effect of being a lesson to them for life. 4. Had the men been convicted by Court Marshal under the Army Act it would not have been necessary to discharge them. Army Oder 266 of 1906. A Copy of this correspondence to be attached to the documents of each man. Ivor Searl Howells. Extract from the Warminster & Westbury Journal and Wilts County Advertiser 10 November 1906. MILITARY THIEVES IN UNIFORM. Corporals Nicholls and Howells, of the Military Mounted Police, were sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour at Camberley for stealing five shillings worth of potatoes from the Manor House estate, Frimley. The men committed the theft while on duty in their Military Police uniform and their horses were used for the removal of the potatoes. Before the case was heard Major Wood, Provost Marshall of the Military Police, asked the magistrates to hand the prisoners over to be dealt with by the military authorities, "for the sake and credit of the Corps." |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Queen's South Africa Medal (London Gazette: WO 100/118 Page: 23 July 15, 1901) |
| Citation: | Clasps: Cape Colony, Orange Free State, awarded as Pte. 16 Lancers, No. 4603. |
| Decoration: | King's South Africa Medal (London Gazette: WO 100/305 Page: 131 April 20, 1903) |
| Citation: | Clasps: South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902, awarded at Pte. 16 Lancers, No. 4603. |