Howell, George Julian "Snowy"
- Date of birth:
- November 19th, 1893 (Enfield/New South Wales, Australia)
- Date of death:
- December 23rd, 1964 (Perth/Western Australia, Australia)
- Service number:
- 2445
- Nationality:
- Australian
Biography
George Julian Howell worked as a bricklayer before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in 1915. He served with the 1st Battalion and quickly distinguished himself in combat. Howell was awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary courage during the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917, where he single-handedly repelled a German counterattack by throwing grenades and charging enemy positions under heavy fire. His actions were credited with saving his unit from being overrun. Prior to this, he had already received the Military Medal for gallantry at Pozières in 1916. After being wounded and discharged in 1918, Howell returned to civilian life and later served in a non-combat role from 1939 to 1941 and later enlisted in the U.S. Army, subsequentlly serving with the U.S. Sea Transport Service.
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Military Medal (MM)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Rank:
- Corporal
- Unit:
- 1st Australian Battalion, 1st Australian Brigade, 1st Australian Division, Australian Military Forces
- Awarded on:
- May 26th, 1917
"At DEMICOURT on 9th April 1917 for courage and devotion to duty displayed while leading his rifle bombing section in the operation against the German position. On several occasions when held up by machine gun fire he overcame the opposition by sound offensive tactics and good use of his weapons, and continued to advance. He, with his section, was in the lead throughout, and was of great assistance to his Company in the capture of its objectives."
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Rank:
- Corporal
- Unit:
- 1st Australian Battalion, 1st Australian Brigade, 2nd Australian Division, Australian Military Forces
- Awarded on:
- June 27th, 1917
Having exhausted his stock of bombs, he continued to attack the enemy with his bayonet. He was then severely wounded.
The prompt action and gallant conduct of this N C.O. in the face of superior numbers was witnessed by the whole Battalion and greatly inspired them in the subsequent successful counter attack."
- Rank:
- Sergeant
- Awarded on:
- 1937
- Rank:
- Staff Sergeant
- Awarded on:
- 1953
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Service Medal 1939-1945
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Merchant Marine Pacific War Zone Medal
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
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