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- HMS Howe during the Second World War -


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

HMS Howe



18th Sep 1944 Attack Made


If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



Those known to have sailed in

HMS Howe

during the Second World War 1939-1945.

  • Baker Archibald George. PO.
  • Caunter Frederick Richard . Able Sea.
  • Mills Charles. Able Sea. (d.3rd September 1943)
  • Osborn Raymond Arthur. Able Sea.
  • Osborn Raymond Arthur. Ord.Sea.
  • Parker Frederick James. Lead.Sea.
  • Phillibrown Peter Wilfred.
  • Woods Albert George. Marine

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of HMS Howe from other sources.



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Want to know more about HMS Howe?


There are:0 items tagged HMS Howe available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War.


Able Sea. Frederick Richard Caunter HMS Glasgow

Frederick Caunter, bottom row 2nd right, HMS St George

Frederick Caunter enlisted in January 1940. He served in HMS Ganges, HMS St George, HMS Victory, HMS Glasgow and HMS Howe. He was discharged in February 1945 as physically unfit for Naval service.

Debbie Rostron



PO. Archibald George Baker HMS Halsted

Archie Baker served on various ships in the Royal Navy from 1935 to 1946. He served on the gallant HMS Glowworm, HMS Halstead and laterly HMS Howe. By good fortune he was sent on a POs course from the Glowworm just a few days before the Glowworm rammed the German battle cruiser The Hipper causing massive damage to both ships. The captain, Commander Roope, was awarded a postumous VC on the recomendation of the captain of the Hipper.

Archie was a PO Stoker on the Halsted when it was hit by a German E boat in the Channel off France. The whole bow and bridge was blown off and the ship suffered many casualties. The ship was towed to port and was later scrapped as it was beyond repair. Archie was then transferred to the giant battle ship HMS Howe where he finished his service after fighting the Japanese in the Pacific.

Bob Baker



Ord.Sea. Raymond Arthur "Ron" Osborn HMS Howe

Dad, Ron Osborn volunteered to join the Navy on achieving the age of 18 in September 1941 and was posted for basic training to HMS Collingwood. On 18th of March 1942 he was posted to the shore establishment of HMS Spartiate at St Enochs in Glasgow. He is officially shown as joining ships company of HMS Howe on 1st June 1942, as part of the commissioning crew and remained with the Howe for the rest of the war until March 1946. Howe battle honours are Arctic 1942-43, Sicily 1943 and Okinawa 1945.

John Osborn



Marine Albert George "Timber" Woods

My Dad, Albert Woods joined the Royal Marines in 1940 age 17, 92 days before his 18th birthday.

He served on HMS Penelope from 7th of July 1941 to 8th to April 1942. He was wounded in both legs when she was being bombed in Malta. He spent time in the military hospital there being put back together. He had to send photos of himself with his legs on show to his mum as she was convinced he had lost his legs. He also made a BBC broadcast to her on 11th April 1943 from Malta so he must have been there for quite a long time.

He then went on to serve on:

  • HMS Howe 1944-1946.
  • St. George June to Nov 1946.
  • HMS Glasgow Dec 1946-Nov 1947
  • HMS Indomitable May-Sept 1950.
  • HMS Implacable Sept-April 1953

My dad and mum married in 1948 and mum took me, age 2, to live in Southsea not far from Eastney Barracks. So that we could be with him. I can remember going to the barracks and the NAFFI with my mum she always gave me a Banjo chocolate biscuit, boy did that taste good.

I have been back to Southsea and it holds many happy memories for me. Dad didn't like to talk about the war. It's only since they have both died that I have found papers, photos and other things in their belongings when we cleared the house that I have been able to do some research into where he was and what he did in the war.

He lost his best friend in the bombing of the Penelope in Malta. I only know his first name was Danny. If anyone can give me any other information I would be grateful. I am very proud of him and all the other personnel that fought for this country. We have donated his medals to the Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth.

Jill Houston



Lead.Sea. Frederick James "Lofty" Parker HMS Howe

My Father Frederick Parker joined the Royal Navy aged 16 in 1916, served mostly on destroyers.Served during Spanish Civil war, Abyssinian campaign, due out 1939. Leaving HMS Hereward transferred to HMS Antelope, after she was damaged, to HMS Anthony. Wounded on Russian Convoys. Then on to HMS Howe. Served on Italian Landings, then on to Pacific with American fleet until end of war. Demobbed and worked at Whale Island.

Peter Parker



Able Sea. Charles Mills HMS Howe (d.3rd September 1943)

I am searching for anyone who knew or served on the same ship as my great uncle, Able Seaman Charles Mills, during WW2. Charles, who was originally from Manchester died, aged 31, on 3 September 1943 due to burns injuries. He was buried in Dely Ibrahim War Cemetery in Algeria. Any information regarding the conflict in the middle east during this time would also be much appreciated.

Marie Walmsley



Able Sea. Raymond Arthur Osborn HMS Howe

My father Raymond Osborn, volunteered to join the Royal Navy just before his 18th birthday in September 1941. Prior to this date he had been a member of the Home Guard. His service dates from 17th December 1941, when he was posted to HMS Collingwood for basic training, which he completed in February 1942. After his basic training and after 3 weeks officially attached to HMS Victory, he was posted to the commissioning crew of the new battleship HMS Howe which had been launched in August 1941 and was being fitted out on the river Clyde. He remained with HMS Howe until March 1946, when he returned to the UK from the Far East. After another month or so attached to HMS Victory he was de-mobbed in May 1946.

On the Howe he was an Anti Aircraft Gunner on a bank of Pom-Pom short range anti aircraft guns. After HMS Howe was commissioned she was sent immediately to escort support duties on the Arctic convoys to North Russia and later to Iceland for Atlantic convoy support and more Arctic convoy work. In 1943 the Howe was attached to the Mediterranean fleet and took part in Operation Husky, the Allied landings on Sicily. Where she took part in the bombardment of the island of Favignana (just of the western end of Sicily) and the nearby Italian naval base of Trapani. Following this the Howe and her sister ship HMS King George V escorted two captured Italian battleships to Alexandria.

After a brief trip back to the UK for a refit, the Howe was posted to the Pacific. The voyage to the Far East was via the Suez Canal. At that time the Howe was the largest ship to pass through the canal. The passage was not without excitement, as she went aground in the shallow Bitter Lake. The journey was via the Seychelles and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)to Sidney, Australia. Dad told me a story about Christmas Day 1944, which was spent chasing a Japanese submarine out of Sydney Harbour (I still don't know if that was true or not).

Next stop was Ackland, New Zealand, where the ships company took part in a march past. In 1945 the Howe was attached to the US Pacific Fleet and took part in the American island hopping campaign. Her last action was in the Battle of Okinawa, April to June 1945, where the Howe was one of the ships to lay down the initial naval bombardment and used to bombard the Japanese defenders throughout the battle. It was here that dad received a slight wound due to Kamikaze action. After Okinawa the Howe started her voyage home. First stop was Singapore, where the ships company marched past at the official signing of the surrender documents by Lord Mountbatten, in September 1945. The Howe then returned to the UK via he Cape of Good Hope, with stops at Ceylon, Seycheles, Mombassa, Durban and Cape Town then straight back to the UK for February 1946. Dad was de-mobbed on 1st May 1946.

I have all Dad's service documents, photos and medals, including the Russian Arctic convoy medal, the British Arctic Star brooch and (as of 18 October 2013) I am awaiting delivery of his official British award, the Arctic Star, which has been a long time coming.

John Osborn



Peter Wilfred " " Phillibrown HMS Howe

My granddad, Peter Wilfred Phillibrown served on HMS Howe & HMS Nelson, I'm not sure which way around, sadly though he's no longer with us as I would of loved to of met him. I'm trying to get as much information about him as I can, if anyone has any information or photos I would very grateful. As my Dad & I are trying to put the puzzle together.

Dolly







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