Howel Gunter

Howel Gunter was born in Fulham, London on 9 May 1844. He was the youngest child out of six, of John Gunter and Lucy Jane Picard. He went to RMC Sandhurst and was commissioned into the 73rd Regiment on 8 July 1862 as an ensign, without purchase. He served in China from 1866 to 68, and in December 1868 the regiment transferred to the Straits Settlements during which time Lt Gunter was appointed Adjutant . In March 1869 the 73rd went to Ceylon where he was married in 1871. He had 6 months home leave in 1873 and then went out to India on 7 Jul 1874. He was promoted to captain without purchase.

Captain Gunter attended the Garrison School of Instruction at Umballa in 1876 and proved an apt pupil in fortifications, military law and tactics. Subsequently he was appointed as assistant instructor at Sialkot 1876-78 and instructor at Agra 1878-85. He was promoted major in the 2nd Battalion Black Watch (formerly the 73rd) and remained in India until 1885. He returned to Britain for six years and was appointed CO of the 2nd Battalion Black Watch in Jan 1891, but in November he exchanged with Lt Col Archibald Graham Wavell of the Norfolk Regiment. He commanded the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment in Burma and then India until 19 August 1894.

In April 1895, Lieutenant-Colonel Gunter was appointed Commandant of the Queensland Defence Force with the local rank of major-general. His tenure in Australia was without any active service, and he attended conferences concerned with amalgamating the various units in a Commonwealth army. Queensland was the first colony to offer troops for the Boer War. Gunter attended a meeting of Australian Commandants (Imperial appointees) in Melbourne to organise an Australian contingent. His obituary said he had done ‘good service in the practical training in camp of the colonial troops. He was a strong advocate of thorough company training and the good service done by the Queensland contingent in the late war in South Africa bore testimony to his efforts.’ The article also said he was ‘much esteemed for his amiable disposition.’

Lieutenant Howel Gunter was married in Ceylon on 2 Feb 1871, to Mary Alice Sinclair Maclagan (née Wall), a widow. They had five male children; Arthur (1872-73 died in Cawnpore), Clarence (1873-1965), Oswald (1876-1955), Athelstane (1881-1968) and Rolf (1888 - 1954). Major General Howel Gunter died in Kensington of cardiac arrest on 2 August 1902.

Acknowledgement to the United Service Club website for the photo and information. https://www.unitedserviceclub.com.au/application/files/8516/1543/5947/HIG_Biography_-_GUNTER_v1.1__P.pdf

1862 Ensign 8 Jul
1865 Lieutenant 23 Jun
1866 appointed Adjutant until 1867
1870 appointed Adjutant until 1874
1874 Captain 7 Jul
1881 Major 10 Jul
1891 Lieutenant-Colonel commanding 2nd Bn Black Watch, Jan
1891 exchanged from Black Watch to Norfolk Regiment, Nov