The 1914/15 Star trio issued to Captain Edmund Howard, New Zealand Veterinary Corps, who served with the Otago Mounted Rifles and New Zealand Field Artillery and who was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haigs despatch of 16th March 1919.

 

Edmund Howard was born in 1879 at Clitheroe, Lancashire, England. Son of a doctor, Edmund George Howard and his wife, Ellen Carlisle. Following his education, Edmund jnr. worked as a toll collector before training as veterinarian at Aberdeen University. He was working in private practice at Nairn in Scotland when he was one of three successful applicants for a position with the New Zealand Department of Agriculture (out of fifty-one applicants) in 1910. He emigrated to New Zealand on the S.S. Ionic, arriving in August 1910, and took up his position in Wellington. He married Margaret McKerchar in 1911.

 

On the outbreak of war in 1914, Howard was seconded to the NZEF and posted as veterinary surgeon (Captain) to the Otago Mounted Rifles. Howard embarked with the Main Body and served in Egypt throughout the Gallipoli campaign. He transferred to the Western Front on the formation of the New Zealand Division. In early 1917 he was attached to the NZ Field Artillery (Divisional Ammunition Column). Unfortunately, Howard’s service file is extremely brief, with few specific details around his service. He was, however, Mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch of 16th March 1919 for the period 17th September to 31st December 1918 (L.G. 11/7/1919). After the war Howard settled in Wanganui, where he served as Veterinary Officer to the 2nd (Queen Alexandra’s) Mounted Rifles. He later worked in private practice, living in Palmerston North. He died at Auckland on 1st September 1945, whilst visiting a friend. His funeral was held in Palmerston North and he was buried in Kelvin Grove Cemetery.

 

All three medals are correctly impressed 9/579 CAPT. E.C. HOWARD. N.Z.E.F. with the genuine MiD Oakleaf affixed to the Victory Medal ribbon.

Service file held at Archives New Zealand