A SUPERBLY DOCUMENTED, TOTALLY COMPLETE & EARLY,
"FIRST BATTLE of THE MARNE" CAVALRY CASUALTY.
1914 Star & Bar Trio, Plaque & Scroll, extensive photos & papers.

To: 5267 Cpl GEORGE FREDERICK HOWE.
"A" Sqd, 5th (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Dragoon Guards.
Seriously Wounded, 1st Battle of the Marne.

(DIED OF WOUNDS 16th OCTOBER 1914)
Deceased while in transit on the evacuation Steamer 'Copenhagen'.
Brought ashore dead & buried at Dover. Aged 31.

It is thought that George developed wound complications including septicaemia while in a field hospital in France. It was during his attempted evacuation by sea to the UK that he died in transit while aboard the steamship SS COPENHAGEN which during this early period was being used as an emergency medical transporter.

[BIOGRAPHY]
George Frederick Howe was born in London in 1883 and joined the 5th Dragoon Guards in April-May 1904 at age 21. George married Elizabeth Celestine Howe (nee Gray) at the registry office in Bodmin, Cornwall on New Years Day 1st January 1910.

[PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION FROM A V.C.]
His immediate commander was Captain John Norwood V.C. who in May 1910 wrote him a character reference & recommendation letter, the signed original of which is included with this grouping. George required the reference in order to commence medical training with the St.John Ambulance Association. He received his certificate of competency to provide "first aid to the injured" in December 1910.

[CAPTAIN JOHN NORWOOD V.C.]
Captain John Norwood was awarded the V.C. during the Boer War for rescuing a badly wounded man while under intense enemy fire. He continued his service with the 5th Dragoon Guards in the early weeks of WW1. He was killed in action on the 8th September 1914, (on his 38th birthday) during the First Battle of the Marne at Sablonnieres. He is buried in Sablonnieres New Communal Cemetery in France.

As members of one of the earliest arriving units of the B.E.F. they entered France on 15th August 1914 just eleven days after the declaration of war. George Howe was also seriously wounded at the Battle of the Marne and died during his evacuation by sea having been in France for just two months.

[SS COPENHAGEN "Emergency Evacuation Ship"]
The ship was built by John Brown of Clydebank for the Great Eastern Railway as one of a contract for three new steamers and launched on 22 October 1907 by Miss Ida Hamilton, daughter of the Chairman of the Great Eastern Railway Company.

The ship sailed on the Harwich to Hook of Holland route. Later in the war, on 5 March 1917, she was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea eight nautical miles east of the Noord Hinder Lightship by enemy submarine UC-61 with the loss of six lives.

[INCLUDED WITH THE GROUP]
(a) Original cabinet card photo of recipient as Lance Corporal.
(b) Head & shoulders picture as Corporal.
(c) On horseback in dress uniform and brass helmet as Corporal.

(d) In dress uniform at barracks within a group of three.
(e) Official letter confirming place and date of death. 17th Oct' 1914
(f) War Office death notification telegram. 18th October 1914.
(g) Registered envelope for the Aug-Nov 1914 clasp (very rare).
(h) Character Ref' letter from Capt, Horwood V.C. (May 3rd 1910)
(i) St John's Ambulance casualty assistance certificate (1910)
(j) Newspaper cutting referring to the death of Captain Horwood.
(k) Death Plaque, Card Holder, Inner & addressed outer envelopes.
(l) Excessively Rare "Kitchener" Cavalry Office condolence letter.
(m) Original 'deceased soldier' medal issue letter. 7th June 1921.
(n) The three original card medal boxes.

[SUMMARY]
Totally complete & well documented early cavalry casualty groups such as this one have always been difficult to locate but as the years go by they are becoming seriously rare. In our opinion these (and the early RFC 1914 star trios) comprise the most desirable areas of medal collecting for future appreciation as just based on sheer lack of surviving supply and an ever increasing demand prices are sure to increase.















George was the Son of Selby George Howe and the late Julia Howe, of Uxbridge, Middlesex and husband of Elizabeth Celestine Howe, of 6, Woodbine Avenue, Highfields, Leicester, to whom his medals, clasp, scroll and plaque were sent.

George Howe is buried and commemorated with eternal honour in Dover cemetery.

Now almost 100 years old, this is a seriously rare and classic surviving assembly. A complete & museum quality grouping fit for inclusion in the finest collection.

SOLD [*SPECIAL NOTE*]
This 5th Dragoons group and two other newly listed RFC 1914 Star & Bar Trios to 522. Cpl F. CARPENTER & 1248 Cpl R.A QUESTED were both bought recently on the same day from a well known on-line auction site at about 50% of their market value. Therefore, as the UK's leading WW1 CASUALTY & RFC & RAF Specialists we are constantly aghast & continually wonder why sellers don't come direct to us for a much higher price before they decide to give their medals away on eBay. So, Sellers, please take note ......we actually BUY MEDALS with same day payment, with no waiting, and no commission !!!!