Corporal George Julian 'Snowy' Howell

image: P01383.004 image: P01383.004
Photograph P01383.004
Service number 2445
Ranks Held Corporal, Lance Corporal, Private
Birth Date 1893-11-19
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney, Enfield
Death Date 1964-12-24
Death Place Australia: Western Australia, Perth, Hollywood
Final Rank Corporal
Service Australian Imperial Force
Unit 1st Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflicts/Operations
  • First World War, 1914-1918
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Biographical information They dared mightily. in 1963
Published in London Gazette in 1917-05-26
Published in London Gazette in 1917-06-27
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-10-11
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1917-10-11
Description

Sydney-born George "Snowy" Howell (1893-1964) served briefly on Gallipoli before being sent to France, where he was wounded at Pozières in July 1916. In April 1917 he won the Military Medal for his bravery leading a bombing section in an attack.

The outstanding feat for which he received the Victoria Cross took place at Bullecourt, where he single-handedly fought off an enemy counter-attack with bombs, rifle, and bayonet before he was severely wounded.

During the Second World War Howell served again in the army before transferring to the United States Sea Transport Service and participating in the invasion of the Philippines. After the war he returned to Sydney but later moved to Western Australia.

Collection items

    Media


    NORTHERN AUSTRALIA. THE RAAF BUILDS ITS OWN AERODROMES. THE BATTLE OF THE BISMARCK SEA HAS PROVED ...

    VICTORIA CROSS WINNERS FROM THE BOER WAR AND WORLD WAR 1 WHO GATHERED TO MARCH IN THE SYDNEY ...

    SATTELBERG AREA, NEW GUINEA. 1943-11-18. SX13571 ACTING CORPORAL G. HOWELL OF COWELL, SA, AND OF ...

    LAE, NEW GUINEA. 1944-06-07. MEMBERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS AT ...

    Five Victoria Cross recipients from NSW, surrounded by a crowd of men and boys. George "Snowy" ...

    Studio portrait of Private George Julian (Snowy) Howell, 1st Battalion. Later awarded the ...

    1927-04-25. AUSTRALIAN VICTORIA CROSS (VC) WINNERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE ANZAC DAY MARCH IN ...

    Document


    Item 1 of 1 - Guide to Australian War Memorial

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 19 November 1893
Date of enlistment 03 June 1915
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 09 June 1915 Posted as a reinforcement to 1 Battalion.
Date of embarkation 14 July 1915
Date wounded 1916-07 Wounded at Pozieres.
Date promoted 06 February 1917 Appointed Corporal.
Date of honour or award 1917-04 Awarded Military Medal for courage and devotion to duty while leading a rifle bombing section during the battalion's capture of the village of Dernicourt.
Date of recommendation honour or award 16 April 1917
Date of honour or award 06 May 1917 Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Bullecourt, France whilst serving with 1 Battalion, 1 Brigade, 1 Division as a Corporal
Date wounded 06 May 1917
Date of recommendation honour or award 14 May 1917
Date returned to Australia 31 October 1917
Date of discharge 05 June 1918
Other 1944-08 Joined the United States Sea Transport Service.
Date of death 24 December 1964

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