Neville Howse

Howse was born in Stogursey, Somerset, England, the son of Lucy Elizabeth (née Conroy) and Alfred Howse. He was educated at Fullard's House School in Taunton. He chose to follow his father (a surgeon) into the medical profession, studying medicine at London Hospital. He attained the qualifications MRCS and LRCP in 1886, and subsequently became a demonstrator in anatomy at the University of Durham.[2]

In 1889, Howse immigrated to Australia for health reasons. He initially settled in Newcastle, New South Wales, but later moved to Taree. He returned to England in 1895 for further studies, obtaining the rank of FRCS in 1897.[2] He moved back to Australia in 1899 and bought a medical practice in Orange, which would remain his primary residence for the next 30 years except during his overseas military service.[3]

Undated photo, c. 1920s

In 1922, Howse resigned his army commission to enter politics, as regulations at the time forbade political campaigning by members of the regular army. He was elected to the House of Representatives, standing for the Nationalist Party in the Division of Calare. He subsequently represented Australia at the League of Nations Assembly in 1923. In January 1925, Howse was elevated to cabinet by Prime Minister Stanley Bruce as Minister for Defence and Minister for Health. In the defence portfolio his primary responsibility was for repatriation. He was a member of the Australian delegation to the 1926 Imperial Conference in London, but was taken ill and had to resign his portfolios in April 1927. He was kept on in the ministry as an honorary minister without portfolio.[2]

In February 1928, Howse was reappointed Minister for Health and also made Minister for Home and Territories. He relinquished the latter portfolio in November 1928 after that year's election. Howse made a significant impact during his two periods as health minister. He helped establish the Federal Health Council of Australia, supported the formation of the Australian College of Surgeons and the first conference of Australian cancer organisations, and was instrumental in the decision to site the Australian Institute of Anatomy in Canberra. In 1928, he convinced cabinet to spend the considerable sum of £100,000 to establish one of the world's first radium banks, allowing Australia to become a centre of radiological research. He was also credited with inspiring public confidence in Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and the government's immunisation programs, at a time when a series of fatalities had led to a distrust of immunisation among the general population.[2]

Howse lost his seat in parliament in the Labor landslide at the 1929 election.[21]

Howse's resting place in Kensal Green Cemetery

In February 1930, Howse travelled to England for medical treatment for cancer, but died on 19 September 1930, and is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery, London. His son, John Howse, was member for Calare from 1946 to 1960.

A statue by Peter Dornan depicting Howse's act of bravery is on display at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Melbourne.

A postage stamp commemorating Howse was issued by Australia Post in 2000.

A one dollar coin designed by Wojciech Pietranik commemorating the centenary of Howse's feat of arms was issued by the Royal Australian Mint in 2000.

He was a freemason.[22]

• Braga, Stuart (2000). ANZAC doctor: the life of Sir Neville Howse, Australia's first VC. Alexandria, NSW, Australia: Hale & Iremonger Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-0868066943.
• Harvey, David (1999). Monuments to Courage : Victoria Cross headstones and memorials. Vol.1, 1854–1916. K & K Patience. OCLC 59437297.
• Lindsay, Patrick (2003). The Spirit of the Digger – Then & Now. Macmillan, Sydney.
• Hill, A. J. (1967). "Howse, Sir Neville Reginald (1863–1930)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 16 November 2008.
• Murray, Lt. Col P.L. (1911). Official Records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa 1899–1902. Melbourne: Albert J. Mullett, Government Printer. ISBN 978-1-921175-26-8.
• Serle, Percival (1949). "Howse, Neville Reginald". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
• Tyquin, Michael B. (1999). Neville Howse: Australia's First Victoria Cross Winner. Melbourne, Australia: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-551190-5.
• Tyquin, Michael B. (2003). Little by Little: a Centenary History of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. Loftus, NSW, Australia: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 1-876439-15-7.
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)
• Who’s who in Australian Military History

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sir Neville Reginald Howse.

• "First World War Service Record – Neville Reginald Howse". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
• "The emerging office of the Surgeon General", Lieutenant Colonel Robert L Pearce, Australian Defence Force Health Journal, April 2002
• Biographical Notes by Ross Mallett on his AIF Order of Battle pages.
• Speech at launch of commemorative stamp issue by John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia in Orange, New South Wales, 23 July 2000.
• Australian Nurses in the Second Boer War – notes on the New South Wales Medical Corps in South Africa.
• Record on AIF Project database