Alec Douglas Howie was born on 3 September 1913 in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, British India.
[1][2] Howie appeared in one match for the Indian Army cricket team against Northern India in the Ranji Trophy.
[1][2] Howie enlisted in the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, as soon as he finished his education.
In May of the same year, the battalion advanced into Belgium to stop the German invasion, but were pushed back to a defensive line at the Escaut river.
The battalion was forced back from the Escaut to the Dunkirk beachhead soon after, and was evacuated to England.