During the
First World War, Howitt served with the
Royal Fusiliers (1914–1916) as second lieutenant, and the
Border Regiment (1916–1918). From 1935 to 1937, he was British Adviser in
Perlis. In 1938, he was appointed Malayan Establishment Officer, and in 1940, was appointed Under-Secretary of the Straits Settlements. In 1948, he was Acting Chief Secretary and acted as spokesman for the government on the outbreak of the
Malayan Emergency. In 1954, he was appointed Chairman of the Public Service Board, Malaya, and three years later served on the Public Services Commission and the Judicial and Legal Commission, Malaya. He retired in 1963. == Personal life ==