He was most prominently known for being the last remaining member of the expedition to Antarctica,[1] which was led by Sir Douglas Mawson on board the RRS Discovery in 1929–1931.

He was doing work on organic chemistry when he was approached by Sir David Orme Masson for the BANZARE.

Within 48 hours Howard took the train to Perch and sailed to England on Orient Steam Navigation's Orvieto.

Howard was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 1998 Australia Day Honours for "service to science through Antarctic exploration as a member of the British Australian New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition (1929–1931), for his work on food technology and preservation, and for his contribution to statistical design".

He was profiled in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery's new exhibition Islands to Ice: The Great Southern Ocean and Antarctica in late 2010.