Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Stanley George Howie was born on 8 July 1894 at Hampden, Otago, the youngest son of David Sloan and Rose May (née Summerell) Howie. He joined his siblings at Hampden School, starting just after turning 5, then transferred to Palmerston in 1903. On leaving school he joined the railways as a clerk.

1912 found Stanley at Albury, where he was a valuable member of the football team. “One of the most interesting matches ever played in the Mackenzie district took place at Albury on Saturday between the local team and the recently formed Alpine (Fairlie) club, reported the Timaru Herald of 11 June 1912. “The local team mustered their full strength, and on paper victory looked certain, but they had to be content with a draw with the somewhat scratch team of their opponents.” The local team included Howie in the three-quarters. In the Albury-Cave match in July, there was no score in the first half, but in the second spell, “from a scramble near the Cave line Howie scored ..” Howie was successful in converting the try. Later in the month he was selected to represent Mackenzie against South Canterbury B. He converted another try on the ocassion, but it was not quite enough to give Mackenzie the win. He secured a spot in the Mackenzie County team to play Waimate County the following month. In the match against Temuka in September, S. Howie kicked a good goal to convert a try once again.

The Timaru Herald reported in its "ALBURY NOTES": “On Saturday night a large number of residents assembled in the social hall to make a presentation to Mr S. Howie, of the railway staff, who has been removed to Timaru. Mr W. M. Bolt occupied the chair, and Mr James Corbett, on behalf of the residents, presented a gold chain to Mr Howie, as a token of the esteem in which he was held by the Albury people.” [Timaru Herald. 4 Oct 1912.] The Railway Club’s sports were held on the Timaru Caledonian Grounds in November 1912. S. Howie competed in the 100 yards with a handicap of 12 yards an, leaving from Wellington on 14 December 1914. d in the 440 yards with a handicap of 40 yards. Stanley’s time at Timaru was, however, short. Mr S. Howie, of the Timaru railway goods office, was transferred to Greymouth at the end of 1912.

Stanley George Howie was a railway employee at Stillwater when he enlisted on 3 October 1914, at Greymouth. Single and Anglican, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Rose Howie, Palmerston, Otago. Corporal S. G. Howie embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the 2nd Reinforcements.The following year it was reported: “Lance-Corporal Stanley George Howie (Canterbury Infantry), who has been wounded, is 20 years of age. He is the youngest son of Mr David Howie, Palmerston (Otago). Before his departure for the front he was made the recipient of numerous presents from the people of Stillwater, where he was stationed as a cadet on the railway for about two years. He was very popular, and made a great name on the West Coast as a footballer, last year being captain of the West Coast Juniors. It is worthy of note that Mr David Howie's three sons have volunteered for King and country. The eldest [sic], Walter Howie, of Mercer (Auckland), will go into training at Trentham shortly, and David Howie, jun., is at present with the Third Reinforcements at the Dardanelles (in the Canterbury Infantry also).” [Otago Daily Times. 19 May 1915.]

“Sergeant Stanley G. Howie, whose name appears in the list of men wounded at the Dardanelles, is the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Howie, of Palmerston (says the Times). He was educated at the Palmerston District High School, and worked for a time in Mr Bailey’s law office. Subsequently he entered the service of the New Zealand railways, and at the time he volunteered for service was stationed at Stillwater, where he was exceedingly popular. He was a well-known footballer on the Coast, being captain of the West Coast Juniors when he left. Mr and Mrs Howie have reason to be proud of their sons, all of whom have volunteered to serve their King and country. The eldest son, Walter, will go into training at Trentham shortly, while the second [sic] son, David, is in the firing line at the Dardanelles.” [Otago Daily Times. 25 May 1915.]

Stanley George Howie married Muriel Maud Wilkinson on 1 February 1917 at St Andrew, Hornchurch, Essex, England. He returned to New Zealand per the “Tainui” which was due at Wellington on 28 April 1919. Mrs Muriel Maud Howie, of Hornchurch, also departed for New Zealand, per the “Tainui”, on 18 March 1919. Sergeant S. G. Howie was discharged on 21 May 1919, on account of gunshot wounds to his left arm, having served for well over four years. Stanley returned to his work with the railways, filling positions in several parts of Otago. In 1925 he was the station master at Omakau where he refereed football. He and Muriel had four sons and a daughter – Ronald Stanley who was born in April 1920, died at 5 weeks; Constance Eva was born in 1921, married and died in 1976; Alan Stanley was born in 1924 and died in 1993; twin sons were born on 5 May 1927 at St Kilda, James dying at 2 days and Kenneth David in 1993.

Stanley and Muriel lived in Dunedin until his retirement in 1951, moving thereafter to the North Island. In 1957 they were at Wanganui, and that is where Stanley died on 31 October 1958, aged 64 years. He was buried in the RSA section of Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui, his grave marked by a services plaque. Muriel moved to Wellington to live with her elder surviving son and his wife. She died in 1978, was cremated at Karori and buried at Waikanae Cemetery. S. G. Howie’s name is inscribed on the Albury Football Club’s Roll of Honour for the Great War 1914-1919 in the column headed Wounded. At least 69 members of the Albury football Club served in the war, 17 being killed in action. His oldest brother William David Howie served in World War One, and was awarded the Military Medal and Bar; He served again in World War Two, and while serving on vital point guard duty, he died in February 1942 at Riverton. He was interred at Riverton with military honours. Walter John Howie, the second son of David and Rose, also served in World War One and was awarded the Military Medal. He received gunshot wounds while fighting in France and, suffering much on return home, he spent most of his time in hospital or the Montecillo Convalscent Home. He died in January 1922 at Dunedin Hospital and was buried at Palmerston, his mother and father with him in 1936 and 1938 respectively. So, both brothers of Stanley George Howie are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [11 December 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [11 December 2022]; School Admission records (Oamaru & Dunedin branches NZSG) [12 December 2022]; Timaru Herald, 11 June 1912, 16 & 30 July 1912, 2 & 5 August 1912, 4 October 1912, 23 November 1912, 8 May 1913, Temuka Leader, 3 September 1912, Otago Daily Times, 13 & 26 January 1922, Western Star, 6 February 1942 (Papers Past) [12, 13 & 14 December 2022]; Aramoho Cemetery burial record (Whanganui District Council) [13 December 2022]; Aramoho Cemetery headstone transcription [13 December 2022]; Aramoho Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [13 December 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.