Born in 1875, Harry Howland was the son of William (d. 1882) and Caroline (d. 1899) Howland, living in High Street, Thame.

In 1901 Harry living in Edmonton, Middlesex, but by 1911 had moved to Haywards Heath, Sussex, where he was working as an attendant at the Public Lunatic Asylum.  He married Emma Elizabeth Foreman on the 9th October 1911, before moving to Hanwell, Middlesex.

Attesting for service under the Derby Scheme in November 1915 at the age of 40 years and 2 months, it was not until 1^st August 1916 that Harry was enlisted into the Royal Garrison Artillery.

He embarked for France on 10^th March 1917, and after a short spell with 183^rd Siege Battery, followed by a short stay in hospital due to illness, he was posted to the 47^th Siege Battery  on the 8^th June.

Killed on the 4^th October 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres, Gunner Harry Howland was buried in the Huts Cemetery on the road between Dickebusch and Brandhoek, in Belgium in an area which was used by field ambulances during the  Allied offensive on this front.

Although born in Thame, Harry Howland is not currently commemorated on the town war memorial.