William Gilbert Howard

Captain (retired) William Gilbert Howard, C.B.E. (12 March, 1877 – 18 January, 1960) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Chelsea, S.W..

An undisclosed ailment pulled him from duty on 10 October, 1898. He was surveyed one month later and presumably found fit. Howard was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1899. A second illness befell Howard on 23 September 1902. From this, he was again fit on 5 March, 1903, albeit to be restricted to a Home station for a time. On the 10th, he was appointed as first lieutenant in ironclad frigate Agincourt, which was part of the training establishment H.M.S. Boscawen. At some point around this time, Howard was scolded for swearing at and striking boys.

On 14 June, 1906, Howard was blamed when his destroyer Gipsy fouled the anchor cable of a steam in Batten Bay, though no action was taken by the Admiralty in the matter. In July, 1906, Howard failed to pass a preliminary exam in Spanish.

Howard was appointed in command of the destroyer Ouse on 29 January, 1908. In August 1909, Howard was cautioned to be more careful when a copy of Gunnery Manual, Volume III went missing from the ship. He was similarly disciplined when, some time in 1910, he somehow damaged Boyne, likely while in Ouse.

Howard was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1912.

He was appointed in command of the gunboat Foxhound on 4 November, 1913.

Great War

Howard was in command of Foxhound, an element of the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean until mid December, 1915. On 11 April, 1915, Howard was commended for the "zealous & efficient manner in which he carried out duty of escorting transports since beginning of December/14."

Howard commanded her while she covered the landings at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and at Suvla Bay on 6-7 August, 1915, the ship worked with five other Beagles and Arno to tow troop barges in.

Howard was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Captain on 11 June, 1923.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Hubert G. Brand	Captain of H.M.S. Cherwell 24 Apr, 1905 – late 1905	Succeeded by Harold G. Grenfell
Preceded by Fitzroy H. Hall	Captain of H.M.S. Kangaroo Oct, 1905 – 28 May, 1906	Succeeded by William S. F. Forbes
Preceded by Denis G. Thynne	Captain of H.M.S. Gipsy 28 May, 1906 – 29 Jan, 1908	Succeeded by John G. de O. Coke
Preceded by John G. de O. Coke	Captain of H.M.S. Ouse 29 Jan, 1908 – 8 Dec, 1910	Succeeded by Hamilton C. Allen
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Acorn 8 Dec, 1910 – 31 Jul, 1912	Succeeded by Arthur Marsden
Preceded by ?	Officer in Charge of Branch War College, Sheerness 1 Aug, 1912 – 1 Oct, 1913	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Bernard J. H. Ward	Captain of H.M.S. Foxhound 4 Nov, 1913 – 18 Dec, 1915	Succeeded by William G. A. Shuttleworth
Preceded by George W. McO. Campbell	Captain of H.M. T.B. 99 8 Jan, 1916 – 19 Sep, 1916	Succeeded by Edward M. C. Rutherfoord
Preceded by Vincent L. Bowring	Captain of H.M.S. Patia 19 Sep, 1916 – 13 Jun, 1918	Succeeded by Vessel Lost
Preceded by Charles La P. Lewin	Captain of H.M.S. Macedonia 23 Aug, 1918 – 15 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by John C. H. Lindsay	Captain of H.M.S. Cordelia 28 Aug, 1922 – 11 Dec, 1922	Succeeded by ?