Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Lt Col

Unit : 7th Bn, 8th Bn, 9th Bn

Biography :

Cecil Howitt was educated at Nottingham High School. In 1907, he studied briefly at the Architectural Association School in London, and in 1912 qualified as an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA), and was a bronze medallist of the Institute in 1911 and 1913 in architectural design. Commissioned into The Leicestershire Regiment in Oct 1914. Served with the 7th Battalion during World War One, initially as a platoon commander, arriving in France with that Bn on 29.7.1915. Appointed as Major 1.4.1917. Commanded 7th Bn as a Major from 3.12.1916 to 5.1.1917 and from 15.7.1917 to 15.8.1917. Awarded the D.S.O. for his actions in command of 7th Bn at Polygon Wood, near Ypres, on 1.10.1917 (L.G. 19.11.1917) "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of his battalion during an enemy counter-attack. He displayed conspicuous ability in handling his battalion and in reorganising the defences of the front line. He went forward through a very heavy enemy barrage to make a personal reconnaissance, and his coolness and decision contributed very largely to the defence of the line." As a Major he commanded 8th Bn from 01.11.1917 to 15.11.1917. As a Lt Col he commanded 7th Bn from 15.02.1918 to 20.02.1918 (when he was wounded), and again from 15.06.1918 to 15.07.1918. He also commanded 9th Bn 15/11/1917 to 20/02/1918. He was Mentioned in Despatches three times and awarded Légion d'Honneur [croix de chevalier] (France) for action at the Battle of the Marne (L.G. 22.11.1918) and Croix de Guerre (France). Demobilised in Oct 1919, he joined the City Engineer's Department at Nottingham City Council and progressed to become an eminent British provincial architect. In 1926 his rising status in the profession was marked by election as a member of the RIBA Council, and in 1931 he became a Fellow of the Institute (FRIBA). He is chiefly remembered for designing prominent public buildings, such as the Council House and Processional Way in Nottingham (1929), Baskerville House in Birmingham (first phase of the unrealised Civic Centre scheme) (1935), Newport Civic Centre, and several Odeon cinemas (such as Weston-super-Mare and Bristol). He was also the winner of the Yeovil Civic Centre in 1938. Howitt's chief architectural legacies are, however, in his home city of Nottingham. He was Housing Architect for the City Council, designing municipal housing estates which are often considered to be among the finest in terms of planning in the country. As work on the Nottingham Council House came towards completion, Howitt set up his own practice 'Cecil Howitt' and established an office in the Exchange Buildings in December 1930. The name of the practice was changed to Cecil Howitt & Partners in 1948. He was awarded the RIBA Bronze Medal for Buildings in 1933, 1936 and 1953, the last mentioned for his work on Staythorpe 'A' Power Station, near Newark, Notts, from 1946. He was a Deputy Commissioner of the War Damage Commission in 1941, and Vice-President of RIBA 1944-46, and was awarded the O.B.E. in 1949. He continued to be actively involved in RIBA matters during the 1950s, eventually retiring from architectural practice in April 1962, aged 73 years. He died in Sep 1968, aged 79 years, in the house he designed for himself, in the village of Orston, Nottinghamshire.
He is commemorated St Mary Magdalene Church, Hucknall, Notts.
The full scope of the architectural work in which he was involved can be seen at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Cecil_Howitt

Date of Birth : 6.6.1889

Place of Birth : Hucknall, Notts

Date of Death : 3.9.1968

Place of Death : Orston, Notts

Civil Occupation : architect and surveyor (FRIBA)

Period of Service : 1914-19

Conflicts : WW1

Places Served : France and Flanders