HONOURED OLD THOMIANS
.

More to come

First Chairman of OTA

As our homepage continues to grow, we will add in more honoured Thomians here. Please check back soon.

Mr E W Howell, O.S.S.

Mr Howell is the eldest son of the Rev. W Howell, a missionary in charge of the Second division, and was born on 22nd July 1891 in Sabu, Simanggang (now Sri Aman). While he was a boy he stayed with Archdeacon and Mrs Sharp in the Vicarage in Kuching and joined St Thomas School, where he was a student from 1899. He continued his studies in Raffles Institution, Singapore and after leaving this institution he worked as an apprentice in the Public Works Department, Singapore for nearly three years. He joined the Public Works Department, Kuching in June 1913 as Assistant Superintendent of Construction in the Railway Section. During the Great War (1914-1918) he served in the Royal Engineers and held the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major from 1916 till the end of the war.

When he returned to Sarawak, he served as Assistant Food Control Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Land and Surveys and acted temporarily as Superintendent of Government Stores. Later he resumed work in the Public Works Department as Chief Clerk of Works. In 1941 he was promoted to the Senior Service and was appointed Assistant Executive Engineer.

When the war broke out at the end of 1941, he was in Australia where he had gone for his furlough. During the war he worked as Junior Assistant Engineer in a Government Department. He returned to Sarawak with the Australian Forces in which he held the rank of Captain. He later served in the British Administration and when civil governmnet was restored, resumed work inthe Public Works Department. He was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the Star of Sarawak by His Highness the Rajah in June 1946. Later he was appointed Divisional Engineer of the Second Division.

Of Mr Howell it may be said that he has always shown his love for St Thomas' and has consistently done his best to help the Alma Mater whenever an appeal is made to him. "It is up to us, the Old Boys of the School, to see to it that progress is not retarded merely because of the lack of a block of buildings or because of the need for a science laboratory."

.

1st Chairman of OTA

.

Oldest Retired Teacher

.

Oldest Old Thomian

.