Neville Reginald Howse was the first soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with an Australian unit.

In an action of outstanding gallantry during the Boer War, Howse rode out to a wounded man, dressed his wound, and carried the man on his back to safety, under fire all the while. Reaching the shelter of a native kraal, Howse then operated on the man for a perforated bladder. The operation was successful and the casualty survived.


In World War I, Howse also served with singular distinction - from Gallipoli to the Armistice and beyond - as the architect of a massive administrative overhaul of Australia's medical services. He also contributed significantly to the successful repatriation of thousands of diggers.


Howse continued as chief of the Australian Army's medical services until the early 1920s when he was elected to federal parliament. He was soon appointed to several cabinet portfolios, including Health and Defence. A fierce nationalist and a progressive and innovative policy maker in military medical administration, he fought energetically for the defence and health of the Commonwealth.


Despite the growing number of works on Australian military and political history, Howse is rarely mentioned. This book seeks to fill this gap in our public history and to place before readers something of Howse's life and times and the factors that contributed to his distinguished career as a soldier and politician.