Charles Roberts Howitt Explained

Charles Roberts Howitt
Office:British Adviser, Perlis
Predecessor:Oswald Eric Venables
Successor:Chistopher William Dawson
Term Start:1935
Term End:1937
Birth Place:Cumberland
Birth Date:5 November 1894
Death Date:23 December 1969 (aged 75)
Nationality:British
Spouse:E. Vera
Children:2 daughters
Alma Mater:Queen's College, Oxford
Occupation:Colonial administrator
Honorific Suffix:CMG

Charles Roberts Howitt CMG (5 November 1894 – 23 December 1969) was a British colonial administrator who served in Malaya.

Early life and education

Howitt was born on 5 November 1894 in Cumberland. He was educated at Carlisle Grammar School, and Queen's College, Oxford, where in 1920 he received his BA.[1]

Career

During the First World War, Howitt served with the Royal Fusiliers (1914 – 1916) as second lieutenant, and the Border Regiment (1916 – 1918).

In 1920, after graduating, he joined the Malay civil service as a cadet, and was posted to Johore where he served as Land Officer (1920), Second Class Magistrate (1921-22), Collector of Land revenue (1922), and Assistant Adviser (1924). From 1925 to 1935, he served in Singapore, Malacca and Penang where he worked in various posts.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

From 1935 to 1937, he was British Adviser in Perlis.[7] In 1938, he was appointed Malayan Establishment Officer, and in 1940, was appointed Under-Secretary of the Straits Settlements. In 1948, he was Acting Chief Secretary and acted as spokesman for the government on the outbreak of the Malayan Emergency. In 1954, he was appointed Chairman of the Public Service Board, Malaya, and three years later served on the Public Services Commission and the Judicial and Legal Commission, Malaya. He retired in 1963.[8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Personal life

Howitt married E. Vera in 1920, and they had two daughters.

Honours

Howitt was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1957 Birthday Honours.[14]

References

  1. Web site: Howitt, Charles Roberts, (5 Nov. 1894–23 Dec. 1969), retired from Malaya . 2024-06-04 . WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO . 2007 . en . 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U54679.
  2. News: 19 January 1921 . Johore Appointments. . The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser . 6.
  3. News: 11 May 1922 . Untitled . The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser . 12.
  4. News: 23 April 1928 . Gazette Notification . Malacca Guardian . 11.
  5. News: 28 May 1932 . Untitled . Malaya Tribune . 4.
  6. News: 15 December 1934 . Gazette Notices . Malaya Tribune . 11.
  7. News: 30 April 1935 . Untitled . The Straits Times . 17.
  8. News: 14 April 1938 . S.S. Appointments . The Straits Budget . 7.
  9. News: 2 May 1947 . M.C.S. Officers Promoted . The Singapore Free Press . 5.
  10. News: 7 October 1948 . Federal Govt's Anti-Bandit Preparations . The Straits Budget . 16.
  11. News: 3 January 1957 . Two key posts for Rahman's elder brother . The Straits Budget . 16.
  12. News: 5 November 1948 . War on Malayan Terrorists . Times . 3.
  13. News: 30 December 1969 . Obituary . Times . 8.
  14. News: 13 June 1957 . The Birthday Honours . Times . 14.