Charles Gough Howell (1894[1] – 12 September 1942)[2][3] was a Welsh lawyer and British colonial official, who served as Attorney General of Fiji from 1931 to 1933, and as Attorney-General of Singapore from 1936 to 1942.

Charles Gough Howell
14th Attorney General of Fiji
In office
16 November 1931 – 1933
MonarchGeorge V
GovernorSir Arthur Fletcher
Preceded bySir Percy McElwaine
Succeeded byRansley Thacker
13th Attorney-General of Singapore
In office
11 August 1936 – 14 February 1942
MonarchsEdward VIII
George VI
GovernorSir Shenton Thomas
Preceded byNewnham Arthur Worley (Acting)
Succeeded byIchihara Kakka
Personal details
Born1894
Cardiff, Wales
Died12 September 1942(1942-09-12) (aged 47–48)
Taiwan Camp, Taiwan
NationalityBritish subject
SpouseSidney Gretchen Innes-Noad
Children1 daughter, 1 son
Alma materUniversity of Cambridge
Military service
RankLieutenant
UnitRoyal Field Artillery
Battles/warsBattle of Loos

Early life and family background

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Howell was the son of William Gough Howell. He was educated at Cambridge University, and was subsequently admitted to the bar in London.[4]

Sometime before 15 June 1918, he was married to Sidney Gretchen Innes-Noad[5][6][7] of Australia, with whom he had a daughter, Rosemary (born 1920–1921).[8] They also had a son, William Gough (Bill) (1922–1974),[9] an Oxford-educated architect who served in the Royal Air Force in the Middle East during the Second World War.[10]

Military service

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On 23 November 1914, Howell was named a temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery.[11] He served in this role from 1914 through 1917, and again in 1925.[12] He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Loos.[13]

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After a brief period as Acting Solicitor General of Kenya (from December 1928 to 9 June 1930),[14] Howell became Attorney General of Fiji and an ex officio member of the Legislative Council on 16 November 1931. His appointment coincided with that of James Russell (Director of Education).[15]

He was confirmed as a nominated member of the Legislative Council in 1933. His reappointment coincided with the appointment of Arthur Leopold Armstrong (Acting Secretary for Native Affairs), Wilfred Wise (Commissioner of Works), and Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Samuel Gamble (Inspector General of Constabulary, and Commandant, Fiji Defence Force).[16]

After being appointed Attorney General of Singapore on 11 August 1936, he was named His Majesty's Counsel for the Straits Settlements on 13 July 1937.[17] He remained Attorney General until 14 February 1942.[18]

Death

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Howell was taken prisoner of war by Japan during the Second World War. He died of dysentery in Taiwan Camp, Formosa, on either 12 September 1942[19]

Legal offices
Preceded by
Acting
Solicitor General of Kenya

1930
Succeeded by
Preceded by Attorney-General of Fiji
1931–1933
Succeeded by
Preceded by Attorney-General of Singapore
1936–1942
Succeeded by
Kensatku-Kan
(Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor of the Japanese Administration)

Ichihari Kakka

References

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  1. ^ "All UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878–1960 results for Charles Gough Howell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  2. ^ "Charles Gough Howell in the Great Britain, Select Deaths and Burials, 1778–1988". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  3. ^ "UK, Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects, 1628–1969 forHonorable Charles Gough Howell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  4. ^ "Mr Charles G. Howell". The Age. 31 May 1943. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  5. ^ "ARRIVALS IN FLYING BOAT". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954). 8 February 1939. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  6. ^ "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1966 for Honorable Charles Gough Howell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  7. ^ "UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878–1960 for Charles Gough Howell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  8. ^ "ARRIVALS IN FLYING BOAT". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954). 8 February 1939. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  9. ^ Richards, J. M (2004). "Howell, William Gough [Bill] (1922–1974), architect". In Gordon, Catherine (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1 (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31256. Retrieved 25 September 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  10. ^ "Mr Charles G. Howell". The Age. 31 May 1943. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  11. ^ "Regular Forces". The London Gazette. 24 November 1914. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  12. ^ "Lieutenant Charles Gough HOWELL. Royal Field Artillery". The National Archivdes. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  13. ^ "Mr Charles G. Howell". The Age. 31 May 1943. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Appointments". Kenya Gazette. 17 June 1930. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Downing Street". The London Gazette. 17 November 1931. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  16. ^ "Downing Street" (PDF). The London Gazette. 5 May 1933. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Downing Street". The London Gazette. 7 September 1937. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Who we are". Attorney General's Chambers. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
  19. ^ "Charles Gough Howell in the Great Britain, Select Deaths and Burials, 1778–1988". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.