Louis Alexander Howard (1913-1942)

Second World War Roll of Honour

Louis Alexander George Howard was born at Anerley, London on 22 April 1913 the only son of Louis Edward Albert Howard, a manufacturer of ladies wear, and Elizabeth Catherine (née Roughton) Howard of 5 Shepherds Hill, Highgate, later of 192 Muswell Hill Road, London. He was educated at the Cardinal Vaughan School in Kensington and Douai School, Woolhampton before matriculating at Downing College in 1931, studying Engineering, Economic History and English. He was a member of the Boat Club, rowing in the 3rd Boat in Lent and May 1933, and a member of the newly-formed Gamlingay Club for those interested in drama.

After leaving Cambridge, Louis worked in the engineering industry, having always been keenly interested in aircraft development. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1937 where he trained as a pilot and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on 1 March 1938. He was confirmed in his rank on 3 May 1938 and was promoted to Flying Officer on 3 November 1939. That year, he was married at Wokingham, Berkshire to Joan Bagshaw of Rondebosch, South Africa. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on 3 September 1940 and served on operations before being posted for instructional duties. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 1 December 1941.

He was posted to Canada as a flying instructor where he served with No. 36 Operational Training Unit. On 3 August 1942, Louis took off from RCAF Greenwood in Anson Mk I AX611 for a solo training flight. During the exercise he ran into poor weather conditions and the aircraft crashed at Canaan, two miles to the south of Kentville, Nova Scotia, around 4.30pm, killing him.

Squadron Leader Howard was killed on active service on 3 August 1942, aged 29.

He is buried at St Lawrence Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kingston, Nova Scotia.

Sources

TNA – RAF Casualty file AIR 81/16947

Image

Downing College 3rd Lent Boat, 1933 (DCPH/2/3/2/14c). Sadly, although we know that Howard rowed at 6 in the boat, it has not been possible to identify him individually on this photograph. This photograph has been reproduced by kind permission of Gillman & Soame photographers. 

Downing College 3rd Lent Boat, 1933 (DCPH/2/3/2/14c). Sadly, although we know that Howard rowed at 6 in the boat, it has not been possible to identify him individually on this photograph. This photograph has been reproduced by kind permission of Gillman & Soame photographers.