Charles Gough Howell

The Honourable Charles Gough Howell KC
14th Attorney General of Fiji
In office 16 November 1931 – 1933
Monarch	George V
Governor	Sir Arthur Fletcher
Preceded by	Sir Percy McElwaine
Succeeded by	Ransley Thacker
13th Attorney-General of Singapore
In office 11 August 1936 – 14 February 1942
Monarchs	Edward VIII George VI
Governor	Sir Shenton Thomas
Preceded by	Newnham Arthur Worley (Acting)
Succeeded by	Ichihara Kakka
Personal details
Born	1894 Cardiff, Wales
Died	12 September 1942(1942-09-12) (aged 47–48) Taiwan Camp, Taiwan
Nationality	British subject
Spouse	Sidney Gretchen Innes-Noad
Children	1 daughter, 1 son
Alma mater	University of Cambridge
Military service
Rank	Lieutenant
Unit	Royal Field Artillery
Battles/wars	Battle of Loos

Charles Gough Howell (1894^[1] – 12 September 1942)^[2][3] was a Welsh lawyer and British colonial official, who served as Attorney General of Fiji from 1931 to 1933, and as Attorney-General of Singapore from 1936 to 1942.

Early life and family background

Howell was the son of William Gough Howell. He was educated at Cambridge University, and was subsequently admitted to the bar in London.^[4]

Sometime before 15 June 1918, he was married to Sidney Gretchen Innes-Noad^[5][6][7] of Australia, with whom he had a daughter, Rosemary (born 1920–1921).^[8] They also had a son, William Gough (Bill) (1922–1974),^[9] an Oxford-educated architect who served in the Royal Air Force in the Middle East during the Second World War.^[10]

Military service

On 23 November 1914, Howell was named a temporary Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery.^[11] He served in this role from 1914 through 1917, and again in 1925.^[12] He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Loos.^[13]

Legal and political career

After a brief period as Acting Solicitor General of Kenya (from December 1928 to 9 June 1930),^[14] Howell became Attorney General of Fiji and an ex officio member of the Legislative Council on 16 November 1931. His appointment coincided with that of James Russell (Director of Education).^[15]

He was confirmed as a nominated member of the Legislative Council in 1933. His reappointment coincided with the appointment of Arthur Leopold Armstrong (Acting Secretary for Native Affairs), Wilfred Wise (Commissioner of Works), and Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Samuel Gamble (Inspector General of Constabulary, and Commandant, Fiji Defence Force).^[16]

After being appointed Attorney General of Singapore on 11 August 1936, he was named His Majesty's Counsel for the Straits Settlements on 13 July 1937.^[17] He remained Attorney General until 14 February 1942.^[18]

Death

Howell was taken prisoner of war by Japan during the Second World War. He died of dysentery in Taiwan Camp, Formosa, on either 12 September 1942^[19]

Legal offices
Preceded by	Acting Solicitor General of Kenya 1930	Succeeded by
Preceded by Sir Percy McElwaine	Attorney-General of Fiji 1931–1933	Succeeded by Ransley Thacker
Preceded by Acting Newnham Arthur Worley	Attorney-General of Singapore 1936–1942	Succeeded by Kensatku-Kan (Attorney-General and Public Prosecutor of the Japanese Administration) Ichihari Kakka

References

1. "All UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878–1960 results for Charles Gough Howell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
2. "Charles Gough Howell in the Great Britain, Select Deaths and Burials, 1778–1988". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
3. "UK, Foreign and Overseas Registers of British Subjects, 1628–1969 forHonorable Charles Gough Howell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
4. "Mr Charles G. Howell". The Age. 31 May 1943. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
5. "ARRIVALS IN FLYING BOAT". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954). 8 February 1939. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
6. "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1966 for Honorable Charles Gough Howell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
7. "UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878–1960 for Charles Gough Howell". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
8. "ARRIVALS IN FLYING BOAT". The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954). 8 February 1939. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
9. Richards, J. M (2004). "Howell, William Gough [Bill] (1922–1974), architect". In Gordon, Catherine (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 1 (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/31256. Retrieved 25 September 2015. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
10. "Mr Charles G. Howell". The Age. 31 May 1943. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
11. "Regular Forces". The London Gazette. 24 November 1914. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
12. "Lieutenant Charles Gough HOWELL. Royal Field Artillery". The National Archivdes. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
13. "Mr Charles G. Howell". The Age. 31 May 1943. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
14. "Appointments". Kenya Gazette. 17 June 1930. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
15. "Downing Street". The London Gazette. 17 November 1931. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
16. "Downing Street" (PDF). The London Gazette. 5 May 1933. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
17. "Downing Street". The London Gazette. 7 September 1937. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
18. "Who we are". Attorney General's Chambers. Archived from the original on 9 November 2015. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
19. "Charles Gough Howell in the Great Britain, Select Deaths and Burials, 1778–1988". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 25 September 2015.