Hyman Harold Devan was born on 29 June 1923 at 18 Honiton Road, Kilburn to Solomon (Sidney) Devan and Hetty (Esther) Arbiter and was an only child. By 1926, the family had started to use the surname of Devon and when Harold enlisted he used the name Harold Alan Devon. From 1926, the family lived at 155 Amhurst Road, Hackney and in the 1939 Register Sidney was listed as a master tailor and Harold an insurance accountant.

Harold enlisted in 1940 and was based at RAF Syerston and after training as an air bomber he served in 44 Squadron from RAF Dunholme Lodge. Harold met WAAF Marjorie Roe and they were married in Newark, Nottinghamshire forty-seven days before he was killed.

Lancaster ME629 departed RAF Dunholme Lodge at 2210 hrs detailed to attack targets in Nurnberg. The aircraft was intercepted outbound and shot down with the aircraft crashing at Lautenhausen, Germany killing all the crew.