Francis Howard (British Army officer)

Howard was a younger son of the diplomat Sir Henry Francis Howard (1809-1898) by his second wife Baroness Marie Ernestine von der Schulenburg. Through his father he was a descendant of the Howard Dukes of Norfolk. His brother was another diplomat, Sir Henry Howard (1843-1921).[1]

In 1895 he married Gertrude Jane Boyd, daughter of Hugh Boyd, and they had one son and one daughter.[1]

Howard was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1866.[2] He took part in the Jowaki Expedition in India in 1877 and then in and the Bazaar Valley and Lughman Expeditions of 1878 and 1879,[2] before taking part in operations in Upper Burma in 1887 to 1889.[2]

In 1894 he was appointed Commander 2nd Bn of the Rifle Brigade, and he took part in the Battle of Omdurman in 1898.[2]

During the Second Boer War, he was Commander of 8th Brigade and took part in the Defence of Ladysmith in 1900.[2] He later served on the Staff and was placed on half-pay 26 December 1900.[3]

He was made Inspector General of Auxiliary Forces and Recruiting at the War Office in 1903 and then Commander of North Western District in 1904.[2] He was appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Western Command in 1905 and retired in 1907.[2] He was recalled as Inspector of Infantry during World War I.[2] On 9 December 1919, Howard was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Gloucestershire.[4]

• Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) 1899, after service in Crete[5]
• Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) 1917[1]
• Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) 29 November 1900, in recognition of services in connection with the Campaign in South Africa 1899-1900[6]