SIR CHARLES HOWARD

Brigadier Sir Charles Howard, G.C.V.O., D.S.O., who died yesterday at the age of 79, was Serjeant at Arms in the House of Commons from 1935 to 1956.

Charles Alfred Howard was the second son of the Hon. Greville Theophilus Howard, the second son of the seventeenth Earl of Suffolk and tenth Earl of Berkshire, and Lady Audrev Townsend, daughter of the fourth MarquessTownsend, who married secondly General Sir Redvers Buller, V.C. Charles Howard was born on July 29, 1878, and was educated at Eton. From Sandhurst he entered the Army in 1898. For a short time he was in India, but he left it in 1899 and then served in South Africa with the South African Light Horse and as A.D.C. to Buller.

In the 1914-18 War his services won for him the D.S.O. in 1917, a bar to the D.S.O. in 1918 and a mention in dispatches. He was wounded in 1916, while commanding the 16th Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps. Towards the end of the war he was an instructor at the Senior Officers' School. The commands he subsequently held included those of the 162nd East Midland Infantry Brigade (Territorial Army) and the 12th Infantry Brigade and Dover Garrison. On relinquishing the latter command in July, 1935, he received the un.usual honour of the freedom of the borough, as an expression of the regard in which he was held and of the regret of the inhabitants, that was publicly expressed by the Mayor of Dover, at losing him and his wife.

In October, 1935, on the resignation of Admiral Sir Colin Richard Keppel, who had held the post of Serjeant at Arms for 20 years, Howard was appointed by King *eorge V to succeed him. During his long term of office Howard maintained to the full the dignity of the House, and members realized that its traditions had to be observed. They were not, for example, to smoke in that part of the Tea Room reserved for non-smokers ! His somewhat meticulous regard for ancient and honourable customs was manifested in an impeccable courtesy of manner and his popularity with all parties was, therefore, great and his genial personality will be remembered with affection. He was made K.C.V.O. in 1944 and promoted G.C.V.O. in the New Year Honours List a year ago.

He married, in 1908, Miriam Eleanore, daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel E. M. Dansey, Ist Life Guards, and he leaves one son.