Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Company Quarter-Master Sergeant W. H. Howe, Essex Regiment, who was taken Prisoner of War following the 2nd/5th Battalion's gallant last stand at Deir-el-Shein,1 July 1942

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial, with Second Award Bar (6006043 Sjt. W. H. Howe, 5-Essex R.) good very fine (5) £140-180

William Harry 'Bill' Howe, a native of Great Maplestead, Essex, was born on 24 August 1907 and attested for the 5th Battalion, Essex Regiment (Territorials) in October 1925. Mobilised in September 1939, the Battalion was embarked for the Middle East in December 1940 and served in Palestine and Iraq in 1941-42.

‘Deir-el-Shein was a small depression of solid rock covered by 18 inches of sand and 2/5th Essex were dumped there with only their rifle companies - no anti-tank guns, no carriers and certainly no armour … with no explosives to shift rock, slit trenches could only be scraped into 18 inches of sand and afforded no cover from view or protection from shot or shell … At 7 a.m. on 1 July 1942 the German 15th Panzer Division arrived and started to shell the Battalion and launch an all out attack Despite being totally outnumbered this was repulsed with fighting continuing until early afternoon when a sandstorm blew up. Under cover of this 15th Panzer threw all their tanks against the Battalion's pitiful anti-tank defences and, of course, broke through. Fighting still continued area to area until early evening when resistance inevitably ceased with 2/5th Essex completely annihilated - all dead, wounded or captured.' (accompanying article by Major M. C. Portway refers).

Following his capture at Deir-el-Shein on 1 July 1942, Howe was held at Fermo in Italy prior to being transferred to Stalag 4B at Muhlberg, on the Elbe, in September 1943. He was finally liberated in April 1945.

Sold with copied research and photographs.