Campaign Groups and Pairs

Five: Captain R. B. Howick, Machine Gun Battalion, The Jat Regiment, Indian Army 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (Capt. R. B. Howick. 9 Jat. R.) good very fine (5) £100-£140 --- Robert Bernard Howick was born on 17 March 1923 and was commissioned in the Jat Regiment on 15 November 1942. Promoted Lieutenant on 15 May 1943, he served during the Second World War with the 7th Battalion and then the Machine Gun Battalion of his regiment in Burma. The Machine Gun Battalion saw extensive and arduous active service from Imphal to the Sittang River, 1944-1945. Companies of the battalion nearly always operated independently in support of various forces. From joining the unit in 1944 Howick served as the only company officer of “W” Company and eventually, from May 1945, as company commander. After Burma the battalion saw further service in French Indo-China, qualifying for the General Service with clasp South-East Asia 1945-46. ‘MG Jat’ was organised as four MG Companies (W, X, Y, and Z), each with an establishment of twelve guns, and was the MG Battalion of the 20th Indian Division. The following notes on Howick’s active service in Burma are extracted from the battalion history published at Bangalore in July 1947: Capture of Monywa ‘From Maukkadaw one platoon of W Company under Lieutenant Howick left to join 100 Infantry Brigade where they received orders to form part of a strong mobile column which was to move as rapidly as possible through Budalin to occupy Monywa… The force duly left on the 4th January [1945], but on approaching Budalin found 32 Infantry Brigade in contact with the enemy who contrary to expectations were making a stubborn stand, in well dug in positions inside the village. The platoon then came under command of 32 Brigade, subsequently being joined by the remainder of W Company which remained with the Brigade right through the Burma operations... Monywa was the Division’s first large prize so far, and had been an important base for the Japs this side of the Irrawaddy… W Company under Major Davies and Lieutenant Howick played their share in its recapture.’ The Irrawaddy Crossing During the battle of the Irrawaddy shore W Company supported 1st Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment in a desperate action ‘One battalion of 32 Brigade [1 Northamptonshires] had been given the task of making a diversionary landing from Myaung to the South of the main crossing. No. 3 platoon were to cross with the assaulting troops to assist consolidation, while No. 2 platoon gave supporting fire from a sandbank in mid river. The landing was effected according to plan on the 13 February and that night Major Davies, and Lieutenant Howick with Company H.Q. and the remaining platoon crossed to join the platoon with the Northants on the bridgehead... The Japanese reacted strongly to this surprise landing, and launched counter attacks, one after the other mainly at night, all of which were repulsed, assisted by our M.G. fire which took heavy toll of the enemy and won many tributes from the men of the Northants. The bridghead was only 800 yards by 300 yards in very soft sand, and no cover of any description, but in spite of these conditions and merciless enemy Artillery fire day and night the morale of the men remained magnificently high… By the end of the month the bridghead was still firmly holding out… We left W Company entrenched with the Northants on their small bridgehead across the Irrawaddy. Not a day or night passed without incident, and the machine guns were constantly in action, beating off enemy attacks, dealing with jitter parties, map shoots and harassing shoots. Enemy artillery continued to pour shells down on to this relatively small and completely exposed area, making any movement by day a very hazardous procedure, and one not indulged in lightly. With the remainder of the Brigade across the river… the by now completely isolated party had completed its task… Thus ended a very trying period of 25 days, spent in exposed positions, subject to constant attacks, and continual shelling, added to which was blazing heat and myriads of flies… many individual acts of gallantry were performed, and the Company with Major Davies and Lieutenant Howick can truly say they had done a difficult job well… A most appreciative signal was received at Battalion H.Q. from the C.O. of the Northants, thanking W Company for the very excellent support they had rendered, and for the magnificent manner in which they had carried it out.’ Final Advance in Burma 32 Brigade now advanced across country to cut the Mandalay road, and ‘Mopping up of nearby parties of enemy was carried out with machine gun support whenever required… Lieutenant Howick was with the company throughout as Company Officer and frequently out with detached platoons.’ These operations continued until the end of March followed by a rest period from 1-9 April. 32 Brigade, with W Company, still attached, then formed a mechanised column to act as spearhead of the next advance, to Taundingwi, which was accomplished in six days. The history continues: ‘From the 23 to the 27 April, one platoon under Lieutenant Howick with guns and ammunition on bullock carts moved South with the 4/2nd Gurkha Rifles, and by the end of the month the Company had concentrated North of Allanmyo on the Rangoon Road... W Company continued with 32 Brigade and reached Tharrawaddy in May. Major Davies had left the company at Tharrawaddy to proceed on leave in India, leaving Lieutenant Howick in charge. While in India orders came through sanctioning Major Davies his home leave in lieu of repatriation, and that was the last we saw of him for about six months.’ Presumably Captain Howick remained in charge of W Company for the remainder of the campaign in Burma and the move to Saigon in French Indo-China, where the task of disarming and rounding up 72,000 Japanese was hampered by a state of near civil war and considerable unrest. The Battalion was still on active service and in action with rebels on a number of occasions. There were casualties and several awards for gallantry were earned during this period. Around October 1945 Howick went on leave to India and was away for several months but must have returned before the Battalion was disbanded in India in August 1946 as he appears in the group photograph of officers present on disbandment.