Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1917 ‘Bullecourt operations’ M.M. pair awarded to Sergeant J. J. Howley, 58th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who was originally recommended for the D.C.M. for his repeated gallantry over several days in May 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (2937 Pte J. J. Howley. 58/Aust: Inf:); British War Medal 1914-20 (2937 Sgt. J. J. Howley. 6 Bn. A.I.F.) mounted for display, generally very fine or better (2)
£500-£600

M.M. London Gazette 18 July 1917. The original recommendation (for a D.C.M.) states:

‘During the attack on Bullecourt and then in the trenches, immediately before and after 9th/13th May, Signaller Howley, working with Signaller Shone (also recommended), was undoubtedly the means of saving from casualty many of the signals. Shells swept across our position, not only breaking our wires but completely destroying them……

During three days our signallers laid 5 miles of wire, much of which they had salvaged in anticipation of such an experience. This is not the first occasion on which this pair have distinguished themselves. All through the winter campaign they have been doing the same excellent work. The experience they have gained has made them more and more expert and they risked death repeatedly in these last four nights of heavy bombardment to give the Battalion the benefit of that expertise. I do not know which to admire more, the runners who took up the work of communication when the wires gave out or the linesmen who were so plucky…..’

John James Howley was born in London in 1892, and was a sailor by trade. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Seymour, Melbourne, Australia, 5 July 1915, and embarked for Egypt in September of the same year. He initially served with the 6th Australian Infantry Battalion, before transferring to the 58th Australian Infantry Battalion. Howely served with the latter in the French theatre of war from June 1916, and was awarded his M.M. for operations around Bullecourt, 9/13 May 1917.

Howley advanced to Lance-Corporal in July 1917, and to Sergeant in September 1918. He returned to Australia in March 1919, and was discharged in July of the same year.