A Great War Wagon Driver’s Western Front Distinguished Conduct Medal and Belgian Croix De Guerre group awarded to Driver F.T. Howitt, 17th Divisional Artillery Column, Royal Field Artillery who saw service on the Western Front and would be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the London Gazette of 1st January 1918 for his gallantry when as lead driver in a four horse team, when the two wheel horses became casualties and their driver was blown off the wagon, he retained control of his own animals and drove the wagon into a field. He then returned to the road and assisted the other driver back to camp. On all occasions he showed great resource and coolness under shell fire.’
Group of 6: Distinguished Conduct Medal, GVR, (L-7253 DVR F.T. HOWITT. 17./D.A.C. R.F.A.) British War Medal and Victory Medal;(L-7253 DVR. F.T. HOWITT. R.A.) Defence Medal; Belgium: Croix de Guerre 1914-1918, with cypher of Albert I.; France: Somme Combattants Commemorative Medal 1914-1918-1940. Mounted loose for wear.
Condition: Mounted loose for wear, Good Very Fine
Frederick Thomas Howitt was born on 14th June 1898 and originally from Aberdeen, he enlisted and saw service as a Driver (No. L-7253) with the 17th Divisional Ammunition Column, Royal Field Artillery seeing service on the Western Front. He would be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in the London Gazette of 1st January 1918, with the citation being published on the 17th April 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As lead driver in a four horse team, when the two wheel horses became casualties and their driver was blown off the wagon, he retained control of his own animals and drove the wagon into a field. He then returned to the road and assisted the other driver back to camp. On all occasions he has shown great resource and coolness under shell fire.’
Howitt would subsequently be awarded the Belgian Croix De Guerre in the London Gazette of 15th April 1918, with the spelling of his surname corrected on 9th November 1918 (it originally having been spelt Howith)
By the time of the outbreak of the Second World War he was living in Wandsworth, he would later die there aged 73 in the last quarter of 1971.
