The first of three brothers to fall

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The Nyngan and District First World War Roll of Honour

Henry Moulds

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The front panel on the Nyngan Cenotaph is the Nyngan and District Roll of Honour for the First World War.

Many of the names include ranks and others also list decorations. Towards the top of the middle column of names is that of Howell-Price O, with after it the abbreviations for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and the decorations Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Military Cross (MC). To the left of the name a small cross indicates that Owen Howell-Price gave his life in that great conflict. He was the first of three brothers to do so.

One of six sons, Owen Howell-Price was born in February 1890 at Kiama and was educated at Windsor Grammar School and Kogarah High School. After school he worked as a bank clerk before undertaking agricultural training at the Government Experiment Farm at Nyngan. He served as an officer in the citizen forces and on 27 August 1914, was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force.

The 3rd Battalion left Sydney in October 1914 aboard HMAT Euripides and became part of the first convoy taking the Australians to Egypt. The Battalion landed at Gallipoli on 25 April as part of the second and third waves. When the adjutant was killed that first day, Howell-Price succeeded him.

Promoted Lieutenant in May, Howell-Price was subsequently promoted Captain on 4 August 1915. For his actions in leading an attack against the Turkish trenches during the fighting at Lone Pine, just two days after his promotion, he was awarded the Military Cross. He was also mentioned in dispatches. Heavy casualties resulted in Howell-Price being promoted temporary Major and assuming temporary command of the Battalion. His rank was confirmed in December.

The 3rd Battalion arrived in France in March 1916 and Owen was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in May. He led in the bloody battles at Pozières and Mouquet Farm in July and August, setting a magnificent example of courage. For this, he was recommended for the award of the DSO and again was mentioned in dispatches.

Sadly, by the time his DSO was gazetted, Owen Howell-Price had made the ultimate sacrifice for his service. On 3 November 1916, near Flers, he was badly wounded and died the next day. His last words were "Give my love to the Battalion". He is buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-l'Abbe in France.

Two of Owen’s brothers were killed in 1917. Lieutenant Richmond Gordon Howell-Price, of the 1st Battalion, died in May. Major Phillip Llewellyn Howell-Price, also of the 1st Battalion, died in October. They, along with Owen, are commemorated on the Municipality of Waterloo Roll of Service, The Great War 1914-1919 in Sydney.

The story of the Howell-Price brothers is one of the most remarkable examples of a family at war. All six Howell-Price brothers served during the First World War. All except the eldest, a Boer War veteran, served overseas with distinction and were highly decorated. Sadly, the three youngest brothers were killed.

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