Bernard Howlett

Brigadier Bernard Howlett DSO and Bar (18 December 1898 – 29 November 1943) was a professional soldier in the British Army, who was killed in action in Italy.

Howlett was born in Stoke Newington, London and educated at St Edmund's School, Canterbury. His father was Reverend Thomas Edwin Howlett and his mother was Gertrude Howlett. On 24 April 1918, during World War I, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment. In August he was posted to the Western Front and served with a battalion of his regiment, although which one is unclear. The war ended soon afterwards on 11 November 1918,

Between the wars he played cricket for Kent and the British Army. Promoted to lieutenant on 24 October 1919, he remained in the army during the interwar period. Now a captain, he served as adjutant of the 4th Battalion, Royal West Kents, a Territorial Army (TA) unit, between 4 December 1930 and 3 December 1934. His next assignment was as a staff officer with the 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division, another TA formation, from 18 April 1936 to 31 March 1939. The following day he was promoted to be brigade major of the TA 132nd Infantry Brigade, part of the 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division and, soon after the outbreak of World War II, served with the brigade in France with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). Later in October 1940 he was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel and assumed command of the 6th Battalion, Royal West Kents, then serving as part of the 36th Independent Infantry Brigade. In June 1942 the brigade ceased to be independent and became part of the 78th Infantry Division.

He commanded the 6th Battalion, Royal West Kents and then the 36th Infantry Brigade in North Africa, Sicily and Italy. He was killed in action on 29 November 1943, aged 44, at Santa Maria Imbaro, Italy. He was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Order, for his actions in Tunisia and Sicily.