A Westbere 'Man of Kent' & an Old Contemptible Great War campaign and long service medal group of 4: Private Elgar Stephen Howard, South Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, & 10th Field Ambulance Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force)

- 1914 Star. With original dated clasp (20366 Pte. E. S. Howard. R.A.M.C.)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (20366 Pte. E. S Howard. R.A.M.C.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (20366 Pte. E. S. Howard. R.A.M.C.)
- Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, GV issue (173 Pte. E. S. Howard. R.A.M.C.)

Note: The low 3 digit regimental number on his TFEM is the number he was originally allocated when he enlisted and was posted into the South Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance, Royal Amry Medical Corps (Territorial Force) on 13 November 1911

Portrait Photograph: A fine studio Carte De Viste portrait of Elgar 'Stephen' Howard - in civilian dress - and a family tree are accessible on the Ancestry genealogical website

Medals & Clasp Verification: All four medals and clasp are confirmed as entitled per the respective medal rolls and Army Order authority referenced below:

- 1914 Star. With dated clasp: WO 329/2502. Shows disembarked France 23/08/1914. and clasp & roses awarded and sent
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/2077. Also shows his later regimental number
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/2077. Also shows his later regimental number
- Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, GV issue: Recipients service papers confirm qualifying criteria met

A good set of the recipient's service papers are extant & are held and accessible at The National Archives, confirming all of his military services

Elgar Stephen Howard, son of Henry Howard (Agricultural Labourer & Sexton) & Jane Howard (nee Jones) was a native of, Westbere, near Canterbury, Kent, England, where he was born on, 24 August 1877. By trade a 'Labourer' (also shown in the National Census of 1911 as a 'Journeyman Butcher), Elgar was 33 years of age when he attested for the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial Force) at Margate, Kent, England, on 13 November 1911, on which date he was posted to the South Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance (S.E.M.B.F.A.) of the Territorial Force of the British Army. Elgar was mobilized for war service on 5 August 1914, the day after Britain's declaration of war. Edgar subsequently served overseas in France & Flanders with the British Expeditionary Force, where he served 23 August 1914 to 13 March 1916. His service papers also show service with 10th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C.. Returning to 'Home Service' on 14 March 1916, Elgar remained in the British Isles thereafter for the remainder of the duration of the Great War

The 1939 National Register for England & Wales records Elgar employed as a Builders Labourer, and residing with his wife Edith Rose Howard and children at their residence located at, 155 Hight Street, Margate, Kent, England. Elgar Stephen Howard is recorded to have died at Thanet, Kent, England sometime during the third quarter of 1964

The medals, now with frayed ribands and loose threads re mounted in the swing-style, and as-worn by the veteran. The medals suspended from their original silk ribands, on a white metal mounting bar. This latter retaining its long hinged pin and clasp fittings

Edgar Howard

Condition: Mostly VF or better

Code: 24952