Sergeant Ernest Howard

Sgt Howard enlisted in 1940 and served his time within the Corps of Military Police. He attended Parachute Course 37 which commenced at Hardwick Hall on the 2 November 1942 before moving on to RAF Ringway on the 12 November 1942. After completing the course on the 27 November 1942 he was posted to 1 Airborne Division Provost Company, HQ Section.

He took part in the North Africa and Italy campaigns before returning to the UK. Sgt Howard took part in the Battle of Arnhem and was posted as missing on the 25 September 1944. On the 9 November 1944 he was reported to be a prisoner at Stalag XIB. However during a broadcast from the German European Service on 13 November 1944 he was reported to be at Stalag VIIIC. During his time at Arnhem and as a Prisoner of War he kept a diary in the hope that they would be returned to his wife if anything should happen to him.

On a scrap of paper he reports that on the 8 February 1945 he began “Our Hike”. Each day they marched to a different location until the 10 March, covering 480 Kilometres by Sgt Howard's reckoning.

Following release, he was sent to the London District Provost Company, where on the 26 February 1946 his Officer Commanding wrote upon his release:

“I have found him to be enthusiastically efficient in everything he undertook; he has a strong reliable character and a cheerful disposition which is an asset to himself and a benefit to those with whom he comes in contact.”

On leaving the army Sgt Howard became a salesman. His diaries along with his medal set and other correspondence are held at the Airborne Assault Museum.

With kind assistance from the family of Sgt. Howard.