Thomas Edward Barham HOWE, DSM

stevedrew · 4 July 2001, 12:40 AM

Forum,
I am having a little trouble finding the date that TEB Howe, RNAS, was awarded the DSM. I am aware that he received a Bar to his DSM on 1 May 1918 "for zeal and devotion to duty during the period from 1st July to 31st December 1917", but cannot locate the original award of the DSM. Can anyone help me out? The citation (if there was one!) would be of great assistance as well. Thanks in advance.
Steve Drew

Graeme · 4 July 2001, 12:46 PM

Steve

I haven't got round to a comprehensive list of awards to other ranks, but I've got Howe listed as having been awarded the Air Force Cross (London Gazette 2 November 1918). He is not shown as having received any award prior to that.

I'll track down my original notes and see if I've anything that helps.

Graeme

stevedrew · 4 July 2001, 07:50 PM

Graeme,
Thanks, mate. I should have mentioned that I had his AFC award. I do appreciate you chasing up the DSM for me. Anyone else?
Steve Drew

5 July 2001, 01:52 PM

Something odd here; his AFC gazetting makes no mention of a previous award, and he is not listed as receiving a DSM (much less a Bar) in THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, 1914-1920 (compiled and edited by W.H. Fevyer, published by J.B. Hayward and Son, Polstead, Suffolk, 1982). During and immediately after the war AEROPLANE routinely published year-end lists of award recipients in the RNAS, RFC, and RAF; his name does not appear.

Hmmmm....

5 July 2001, 02:35 PM

Steve,

Further to Hugh's posting. Sometime ago Hugh sent me a copy of "The Aeroplane" dated May 23,1918. It has a small article on Howe. It has no mention of a DSM. It notes his AFC awarded November, 1918 and the bar to the AFC January 15, 1923.

I echo Hugh's thoughts.....Hmmmm.

stevedrew · 5 July 2001, 05:33 PM

Hugh and Andrew,
Looks like it's back to the State Library and a look at the London Gazette. I agree. Hmmmmm.
Steve Drew

6 July 2001, 02:37 AM

Unless hit by a bus, I shall be looking at LONDON GAZETTES today and will add the issue of 1 May 1918 to my list of items to check. Will report at day's end.

6 July 2001, 12:14 PM

The LONDON GAZETTE of 1 May 1918 has a long list of awards to RNAS personnel "for zeal and devotion to duty during the period from 1st July to 31st December 1917". The list is broken up into sections with headings like "Distinguished Service Cross" in ITALIC type. The list for Distinguished Service Medal recipients (arranged in alphabetical order) goes directly from "Hosmer" to "Hull" - no sign of Howe - and the heading "Bar to Distinguished Service Medal" is followed by one name, that of Petty Officer Mechanic Thomas Brown Thomson.

If you are scanning the page quickly (as I was) you may miss (as I did) the little paragraph in ORDINARY type to the effect that the following names are those who have been Mentioned in Despatches. And sure enough, half-way down the list of MiD recipients is the name of Flight Lieutenant Thomas Edward Barham Howe.

Right church - wrong pew.

Graeme · 6 July 2001, 01:12 PM

Nice spot, Hugh.

Initially, when I took information from the London Gazette, I broke it down into services and again into officers & other ranks. Trying to make sense of it all now almost made me cross-eyed.

Come to think of it, as the DSM was awarded to petty officers and men of the Royal Navy, non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Marines and all other persons holding corresponding positions in the naval forces, Howe would have been shown with either his NCO rank or his Officer rank with his former rank in brackets.

Well, it's been a tough week at work; brain has to switch off sometime!

Graeme

stevedrew · 6 July 2001, 11:58 PM

Hugh,
Thanks. My brain MUST have been in neutral. The course I'm doing has shocked me a bit. Must be more alert. I'll check that again to satisfy myself.
Steve Drew