Howard Philip Southern was the youngest son of Charles and Maria Southern; the family lived at 13 Council Cottages (now 29 Pitchers Hill) in 1939, when his father was a market gardener's labourer. He was a lorry driver for Littleton and Badsey Growers' Association before enlistment.
He served in the Home Guard from its inception until he was called up in 1942. As a Trooper, he landed in France on 'D' Day in June 1944.