1980 RETURN TO COLDITZ OFLAG 1Vc COVER SIGNED BY MAJOR RICHARD HOWE HOWE MBE,MC for Sale

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1980 RETURN TO COLDITZ OFLAG 1Vc COVER SIGNED BY MAJOR RICHARD HOWE HOWE MBE,MC For Sale

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1980 RETURN TO COLDITZ OFLAG 1Vc COVER SIGNED BY MAJOR RICHARD HOWE HOWE MBE,MC:
$125.22

1980 RETURN TO COLDITZ OF LAG 1Vc SIGNED SPECIAL COVER COLDITZ P/MARK
Signed by :: Major Richard Herbert Howe MBE,MC

CaptainRichard Herbert HoweMBE,MC(21 June 1912 – c. 1 June 1981) was a British army officer during World War II.[1][2]He was captured by the Germans in 1940 and eventually held inOflag IV-C, atColditz Castle, where he served as Escape Officer from 1942 to 1945.[1]He organised many escapes including eight successfulhome runsof British officers.[1]

Lt. Col. Moran of the Colditz Association described him as \'an outstanding chap, the soul of Colditz. In a crisis he was the most calm individual and he had enormous reserves of will power\'.

Life

Richard Herbert Howe was born on 21 June 1912 inBrazil, the son of Charles Herbert Howe and Ethyl Jeannie Maud Howe (née Nichols).[4]He was educated atBedford Modern Schoolbetween 1920 and 1930.[1][5]

Howe served as a lance corporal on theOfficers\' Training CorpsatBedfordand was commissioned as asecond lieutenantin theRoyal Tank Corpson 13 May 1933.[6]After a short period of time with the Royal Tank Corps, he worked in radio manufacturing forKolster-Brandes Limited,A.C. Cossor Limitedand Truphonic Radio Limited.[7]At the outbreak ofWorld War IIhe rejoined the 3rd Battalion Royal Tank Regiment.[7]

In 1940, Howe was serving in theBritish Expeditionary Force, as alieutenant, and temporarycaptain, in the3rd Royal Tank Regiment, when he was awarded theMilitary Crosswhile defending troops evacuatingCalais.[1][8][9]

After being captured following theSiege of Calais, he was imprisoned atOflag VII-CatLaufen. Howe was one of six British officers who escaped, but were eventually recaptured. Howe and the rest of the \"Laufen Six\" — Harry Elliott, Rupert Barry (later Sir Rupert Barry),Pat Reid, Anthony \"Peter\" Allan andKenneth Lockwood— were then sent to Colditz.[10]Howe later replaced Reid as Escape Officer, co-ordinating all escape plans, after Reid himself escaped in October 1942. He organised many escapes including eight successfulhome runsof British officers.[1]

Howe remained a prisoner until the end of the war, but his efforts were recognized by being made aMember of the Order of the British Empirein June 1946.[11]Howe died in hospital inTunbridge Wells, Kentin 1981.[1]