Alan Frederic William Howard

Captain (retired) Alan Frederic William Howard, D.S.O. (11 April, 1883 – ) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Howard was born in Colchester. He underwent examinations for several days commencing on 20 July, 1897 and gained entrance to the Britannia term of August, 1897, his 1145 marks placing him fifty-second in merit among the sixty-three candidates accepted as naval cadets.

Gaining three months' time on passing out of Britannia in January, 1899, his first two appointments were in battleships: a year in Mars of the Channel Squadron followed by two years and four months in Ocean of the Mediterranean Fleet. Howard joined the Royal Naval College on 30 September,m 1902 and emerged to a naval career re-positioned in Mediterranean torpedo craft.

Howard was appointed to two month stints in Fairy and Hasty before being placed in Flying Fish for a year. When Flying Fish paid off on 29 November 1904, Howard was sent to Foam for one month. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1904, Howard was appointed to Banshee for one month.

Howard transitioned back to larger ships when he was appointed to Sapphire on 6 March, 1905. He left her when, on 2 January, 1907 he was appointed to Hibernia of the Channel Fleet. When she paid off on 5 January, 1909, he was appointed to Leander, additional, for command of Spitfire.

Howard was appointed in command of the destroyer Lapwing on 26 March, 1912.

Howard was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1912.

On 27 January, 1914, Howard damaged Lapwing's propeller at Harwich. As war approached, he was to be sent to Germany to study the language for six months. This plan was scotched by a telegram dated 27 July stating Howard was "not to leave England until further orders." On 22 August, he was appointed to H.M.S. Vivid to await the completion of the "M" Class destroyer Meteor, to take command upon her commissioning.

Howard was appointed in command of the destroyer Mansfield on 24 November, 1914. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1916 and remained in Mansfield until 8 July, 1917 when he was appointed to his final wartime command in Stork.

In 1917, it was noted that Howard "served continuously throughout the war and distinguished himself on many occasions."

Post-War

Howard gave up command of Stork on 6 November, 1919 and was loaned to the Royal Australian Navy for two years. On 27 April, 1920, Howard was appointed in command of the flotilla leader Anzac and became Commander (D), His Majesty's Australian Destroyer Flotilla. Howard seemed to take to Australia, as he inquired unsuccessfully whether his reversion to Royal Navy service might be cancelled. Upon his return from Australian service, Howard worked at a succession of appointments typical to destroyer commanders from the Great War, including some instruction, commands of light cruisers that had been reduced to reserve and groups of destroyers in reserve.

Howard was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 19 May, 1929.

World War II

Howard was appointed as Divisional S.T.O., Le Havre on 6 September 1939. When France fell, similar work was sought for him but on 16 September 1940, he was given a liaison post with the Army on the North and East Kent shores, vice Phillimore. He would be awarded a D.S.O. for his work directing sea transport in 1940. Howard apparently rode out the rest of the war in this appointment and reverted to the Retired List on 10 October, 1945.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Leopold G. D. Way	Captain of H.M.S. Flirt 20 Mar, 1909	Succeeded by John P. Landon
Preceded by Frederic B. Coppin	Captain of H.M.S. Mermaid 23 Jan, 1911 – 26 Mar, 1912	Succeeded by Alfred G. Peace
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Lapwing 26 Mar, 1912 – 18 Jun, 1914	Succeeded by Alexander H. Gye
Preceded by Harold G. Campbell	Captain of H.M.S. Conflict 29 Jul, 1914 – 1 Aug, 1914	Succeeded by Francis G. Glossop
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Meteor 22 Aug, 1914 – 24 Nov, 1914	Succeeded by The Hon. Herbert Meade
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Mansfield 24 Nov, 1914 – 8 Jul, 1917	Succeeded by William H. Sandford
Preceded by Francis A. W. Buller	Captain of H.M.S. Stork 8 Jul, 1917 – 6 Nov, 1919	Succeeded by Henry P. Wilson
Preceded by Salisbury H. Simpson	Captain of H.M.A.S. Anzac 27 Apr, 1920	Succeeded by Reginald C. Creer
Preceded by Lewes G. Gardner	Captain of H.M.S. Tenedos 10 Jul, 1924 – 2 Feb, 1925	Succeeded by Philip G. Wodehouse
Preceded by Charles T. Wilson	Captain of H.M.S. Concord 27 Oct, 1927 – Nov, 1927[Inference]	Succeeded by Bernard Acworth
Preceded by Ralph Leatham	Captain of H.M.S. Yarmouth 8 Oct, 1928 – 19 May, 1929	Succeeded by ?