After education at Heatherdown and Eton, Michael Howard was granted a Short Service Commission from Mons OCS into The Queen’s Own Hussars, then stationed at Catterick as the RAC Training Regiment.
The regiment was a natural choice for Michael who was brought up in Worcestershire and his father had served in the Worcestershire Yeomanry who, when amalgamated with the Warwickshire Yeomanry, were affiliated to the regiment.
Shortly afterwards, the regiment moved to Maresfield Camp in Sussex, where it converted to armoured cars in preparation for deployments to the Middle East and then to the Far East.
Michael was posted to ‘B’ Squadron, which for most of the next four years was independent of the main regiment. In July 1967, the regiment deployed to the Middle East.
The main body operated in Aden, whilst ‘B’ Squadron was in Sharjah in the Persian Gulf. Here they carried out desert patrols, often with the Trucial Oman Scouts. Navigation in the featureless desert was challenging, and the sharp stones meant that all ranks became expert at changing the wheels of a Ferret Scout Car.
With the main body of the regiment fighting terrorist forces in Aden, ‘B’ Squadron naturally felt that they were missing out on the action. Therefore, some members, including Michael, were posted to Aden to cover the final withdrawal. To his disappointment he was withdrawn two days short of the qualifying time to earn him his General Service Medal.
Back in Maresfield, the main body began training for deployments to Singapore and Hong Kong, whilst ‘B’ Squadron prepared for a six-month tour with the United Nations in Cyprus.
On return from Cyprus Michael led a recruiting team in Birmingham during the course of which a young man who was considering joining the Queen’s Own Hussars brought his sister, Caroline Pelly to the stand. The young man never joined the army but Michael married Caroline three years later.
Michael was appointed Assistant Adjutant in Singapore for the duration of the regiment’s tour.
In September 1970, the regiment converted to Chieftain tanks in Hohne. Michael commanded Recce Troop one of whose duties was escorting the Border Force Officers on patrols of the East German border. Michael was an excellent photographer and he was never without his camera. During those patrols he took a number of photographs of the East German positions. These he showed to the Intelligence Corps, who asked if they might keep some of them.
Michael believed that it was no coincidence that, when he left the army in 1972, the Intelligence Services tried to recruit him. However, he decided to adhere to his original plan to join the family firm.
Michael was extremely popular with all who knew him. His quick wit ensured that he was excellent company for his brother officers. This was always sharp and frequently outrageous, but it was never unkind. One subaltern recalled that when he joined, “He adopted a paternal role and took many of us under his wing to ensure we subalterns were brought up in the proper regimental tradition”. He had a genuine interest in people and his dedication to his soldiers’ welfare with the lengths to which he went to entertain them meant that he was very well liked by them.
Quality Cleaners, the family firm, was sold in 1976 and Michael started his own business which he ran successfully until shortly before his death.
In 1976 Michael was invited to become a JP which at the time made him the youngest magistrate ever appointed. As such he served on the Worcester Bench for many years during the last of which he was Chairman.
Michael was High Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1997 to 1998, President of the Worcestershire Hunt Club, a keen fisherman and he ran the Shakenhurst shoot for many years.
His son, Harry served in The Queen’s Royal Hussars from 2006 to 2011.
