Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘1941’ O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Colonel R. H. S. Hounsell, Royal Engineers, who served during the Great War as Assistant Director of Military Works, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force from 1918, for which he was M.I.D; and as Deputy Assistant Director of Military Works in India from 1920, for which he was also M.I.D.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves (Major R. H. S. Hounsell.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt. R. H. S. Hounsell, R.E.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, unnamed as issued; Coronation 1937, unnamed as issued, mounted as worn, generally very fine (8) £300-£400

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 July 1941.

M.I.D. London Gazette 21 February 1919 (Mesopotamia).

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 June 1923 (Waziristan 1919-21).

Randall Henry Strangways Hounsell was ‘born at Weobley, Herefordshire, on 1 March 1890, where his father, Frederick Hounsell practised medicine. His mother being an Irish Catholic he was brought up in that faith, and was educated at the Benedictine Monastery School at Downside, Somerset. From there he passed into the Shop in July, 1908; and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 27 July 1910.

From the beginning of his career in the Army, Hounsell's interests lay in the direction of civil engineering as opposed to military engineering as such. Whilst a young officer at Chatham he became the centre of a group interested in classical music, the taste for which remained with him all his life.

On passing out of Chatham he selected India as his choice and, in consequence, underwent a course in Railway Locomotive Mechanical Engineering at the LSW Railway Workshops at Eastleigh. This course he shared with C. W. S. King of his batch (now Lieut-General Sir Charles King) who had selected Indian Railways as his choice on leaving Chatham. It was evidently considered by the War Office at that time that a course in Mechanical Engineering in England was a suitable preparation for service in the Engineering or Traffic branches of the Indian State Railways!

In 1913 Hounsell arrived in India as a Lieutenant, and found himself posted to Ambala as a Garrison Engineer in the Military Works Services, as it was then called. On the outbreak of war in August 1914 he made strenuous efforts to be sent overseas; but in spite of these efforts he was retained in Works Services in India until January 1918, when he was posted to Basra as Assistant Director of Works, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force.

On the cessation of hostilities Hounsell returned to India, where he joined the RE HQ in Simla in 1920. Shortly afterwards he was posted as Adjutant to the CRE Wana Column, and eventually became Garrison Engineer Landi Kotal at the head of the Khyber Pass. After a period of leave in England he returned to India, where he continued to serve in the Military Works Service in various parts of that country and in Waziristan.

In 1928 Hounsell, now a Major, was posted to Army HQ Simla, and later served as SORE 1, Eastern Command at Naini Tal until January 1933. By then, Hounsell decided he had served long enough in India, and at the termination of his leave in England in July 1933, he reverted to the home establishment, and was appointed DCRE South Aldershot.

On his promotion to Lieut-Colonel in July 1934 he became CRE Home Counties Area (East) with his HQ at Dover. Here he remained until his retirement on 13 March, 1938.

Hounsell had the misfortune to be one of those unfortunates who was caught by the Hore-Belisha reforms of 1938, which laid down that no Lieut- Colonel on the completion of his tenure in that rank could remain longer than six months on half pay. If, at the termination of that period, there was no suitable vacancy in the rank of Colonel available, he was automatically retired-whether or not he had been recommended for promotion! Previous to 1938, a Lieut-Colonel recommended for promotion could, if he wished, remain on half-pay up to three years pending a suitable vacancy.

Hounsell decided on retirement to accept civilian employment in Works Services, and remained in Dover as DCRE. On the outbreak of war in September 1939, he was recalled from the Reserve and resumed his previous employment as CRE Home Counties (East). During the first three years of the war he was kept extremely busy on the construction of anti-invasion works and of heavy coastal batteries near St Margaret's Bay near Dover, and elsewhere. One of these latter had the honour of a personal visit by the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill.

In August 1942, Hounsell became a temporary Colonel, and was made Chief Engineer, East Kent District, South East Command; in which capacity he remained until 1947, when he retired for the second time. He was mentioned in Despatches for his services in Mesopotamia 1918, and again for his work in Wazaristan in 1919-21. In 1929 he was made an MBE; and in 1941 he received the OBE for special services in connection with coast defences.

On retiring in 1938, Hounsell bought a house at St Margaret's Bay, from where he was able daily to travel to his work in Dover. He continued to live in this house up to his death on 18 April this year. For the last few years of his life Hounsell was compelled to live very quietly for medical reasons, although he found time to visit Italy on several occasions with his wife, Sheelagh O'Sullivan, whom he married in 1926. He leaves a daughter, Ann, who is married.

Ray Hounsell was a most efficient and capable engineer, and throughout his service in "Works" he invariably maintained a high standard of engineering wherever he was in charge.

Although quiet and somewhat retiring, he made a host of friends throughout his life, and was always most popular with those who had the good fortune to serve under him.

In his retirement at St Margaret's Bay he devoted much of his time to helping in local church activities. He also taught himself to become a very efficient clock and watch repairer.’ (Royal Engineers Journal, September 1966 refers)