Sir Neville Reginald Howse VC, KCB, KCMG (26 October 1863 – 19 September 1930)
Howse was the first soldier in the Australian services to be awarded the VC. He later served in the Australian Federal Government, and also as Minister of Defence and several other portfolios.
Born in Stogursey, Somerset, England, Howse was educated at Freelands School, Taunton. He then studied medicine at London Hospital, before migrating to NSW largely for health reasons, and established his first practice in Newcastle, and then another in Taree. After undertaking postgraduate work in England, Howse returned to Australia in 1899 and settled in Orange.
Howse served in the Second Boer War with the Second Contingent of the NSW Army Medical Corps, arriving at East London, East Cape in February 1900 as a Lt.
On 24 July 1900, during the action at Vredefort, South Africa, Howse saw a trumpeter fall, and went through very heavy cross-fire to rescue the man. His horse was soon shot from under him, but he continued on foot, reached the casualty, dressed his wound, and then carried him to safety. For this action, Howse was awarded the VC. The award was gazetted on 4 June 1901 and the original citation reads:
The King has been graciously pleased to signify His intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officer, and Soldier, for their conspicuous bravery in South Africa, as stated against their names :—
New South Wales Medical Staff Corps, Captain N. R. House [sic]
During the action at Vredefort on the 24 July 1900, Captain House went out under a heavy cross fire and picked up a wounded man, and carried him to a place of shelter.
Howse was subsequently promoted to CAPT on 15 October 1900.
He thus became the first recipient of the Victoria Cross serving in the Australian armed forces; his medal is on display at the Australian War Memorial here in Canberra.
Howse went on to serve through WWI, including at Gallipoli, as well as a career in Politics.
He resigned from the army and won the federal seat of Calare for the Nationalist Party at the December 1922 election. He held several ministerial portfolios, including Defence, Health, and Home and Territories, but he was defeated at the October 1929. In February 1930, Howse travelled to England for medical treatment for cancer, but died on 19 September 1930, and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London.