Story:
Howard William Highman was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 27th January 1897, the son of George Highman and Elizabeth Highman (nee Roberts). He lived at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, up until he volunteered for war service during which time his father had died on 13 Sep 1901. He enlisted on 8th December 1915 and joined the Dorsetshire Regiment (7th Reserve Battalion) as a Private (Service No. 17605). He transferred shortly after to the Royal Irish Rifles (Service No. 10074). Having served in Salonika from 5 Jan 1917. He returned to England and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 2nd January 1918 (later the Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) (Service No. 138549) and served in Egypt from2 Jan 1918. He achieved the rank of AC1 and remained until demobilized on 21st May 1920. He was awarded the Victory and British medals. The 1921 Census shows him living with his widowed mother still at 25 Bimport, Shaftesbury, working a a Motor Mechanic. He re-enlisted in the RAF (Service No. 138519) on 18th April 1931 and served through until placed on Reserve on 18th April 1939. He had married Florence Amelia Alice Hyde in 1928 (Bournemouth District Register). There were possibly two children of the marriage. The family lived at 12 Fieldings, Shaftesbury at the time of the 1939 Register and, once no longer serving with the RAF, Howard became an Automobile Association Road Patrolman. He died in Gillingham, Dorset, on 8th December 1976.