An oak tree was planted in the old Kaukapakapa Cemetery, Cnr State Higway 16 and Peak Road. There is a plaque commemorating Howard beside the tree.

Before the war, Howard worked in the district of Kaukapakapa where his parents had a farm in Peak Road. He had an early stationary hay baler which was operated by a horse. Howard had it mounted on the chassis of an old International truck which was adapted to tow behind the tractor, The season before he went into the army, he baled a huge acreage at South Head and Wainui as well as Kaukapakapa. Quite confident he would return, he put it in to storage for his return, Sadly, he was killed in action in Italy. Due to the invention of the 'pick -up baler' it is unlikely the baler in the photo was ever operated after the war.