War Service
When World War I broke out, Howard joined the army and reported to Aldershot in early October to join the Royal Engineers. For 12 months Howard served as a despatch rider and served in France. When he returned to England he was given a Commission and posted to Dunstable. He then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, where he gained a Royal Aero Club Pilot's Certificate, at the Ruislip Military School on 29 July 1916, and was promptly posted to France. He flew RE8 aircraft for 34 Squadron, at Villers-Bretonneux, artillery spotting and was shot down twice.
On the first occasion he found his way back to his own lines, but the second time he and Lieutenant J R Samuel were captured at Karlsruhe becoming prisoners of war.
Initially listed as missing, it was then announced that he had been killed in action. An obituary appeared in May 1917 in Motor Cycling magazine, whereupon it emerged that Howard had actually been taken prisoner. He attempted to escape a number of times, once by tunnel, but was unsuccessful.
Read more about this topic: Howard R. Davies
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