Career
After graduating from the University of Cambridge, he became a war correspondent for British Broadcasting Corporation radio at the start of World World War World War II Howarth joined the Navy after the fall of France. He served in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and helped set up the Shetland Business, an SOE operation manned by Norwegians running a clandestine route between Shetland and Norway. He was second in command at the Naval base in Shetland.
The King also made Howarth a Chevalier First Class of the Order of Street Olav.
After the war, he wrote several books on naval and military history, including a memoir of the Shetland Business. Howarth died on 2 July 1991 at the age of 78.
At his request, his ashes were scattered over the waters of Lunna Voe, Shetland, near Lunna House, the first base of the Shetland Business operation.