After graduating from the University of Cambridge, he became a war correspondent for BBC radio at the start of 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 Bus, an SOE operation manned by Norwegians running a clandestine route between Shetland and Norway.
After graduating from Cambridge University, he became a war correspondent for BBC radio during World War II. Howarth joined the Navy after France fell. He served in the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and helped set up the Shetland Bus, an SOE operation run by Norwegians that transported supplies between Shetland and Norway.