He was the son of Humphrey and Ada Matilda Shimwell of Balby, Doncaster, Yorkshire.

Harold came to East Tilbury in 1938 from Doncaster and left in 1941 to join the Air Force. He worked in the Rubber Factory prior to joining the forces.

Reported Missing from Air Operations over Germany, there is a grave in Cambridge City Cemetery which bears his name.

He died on Wednesday 3rd November 1943, aged 19.