Name
Charles (John) Houghton
1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/11/1914
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7842(*1)
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
Charles was born in 1884 in Little Brickhill, Bucks. and his parents were John and Adelaide Houghton (previously Henley) and they had married in Little Brickhill, Bucks on 5 June 1882.
In 1891 the family were living at High Street, Little Brickhill, Bucks. Present were both parents: John (34) and Adelaide (38), with John working as an agricultural labourer. Their children were: William (18) and Thomas (12) Henley, sons of Adelaide, stepsons to William, Arthur (8), Charlie (Charles) (6), Mahala (4), Harry (2) and Herbert at three months.
In 1901 the family’s address was recorded as Buttermilk, Little Brickhill, Bucks. Present were both John and Adelaide, with William working as a labourer, horse keeper and groom. Of the children listed above William and Mahala were absent and curiously Thomas Henley was recorded as a son-in-law (probably incorrect), Charlie was 16 and working as a labourer. New siblings were Frank (8) and Sydney (6).
Charlie/Charles married Edith Wickes (b 1/2/1991) in 1910 in Watford, and a daughter Gertrude Mary was born on 25 May 1910. By 1911 they were living at Little Brickhill, Bletchley, Bucks. Present were both parents, Charlie now working as a railway labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 1 years with 1 child.
In 1911. Charles’ parents and brothers Frank and Sydney were still living in Little Brickhill, with John working as an estate labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 28 years with 11 children, all living.
Another child, Edna May was born on 27 March 1912.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Little Brickhill, Bletchley and was living in Hitchin when he enlisted in Leighton Buzzard.
Wartime Service
Currently we know little of Charles war service, however he was recorded as disembarking in France on 21 August 1914, receiving the 1914 Star Medal and dying of wounds on 9 November 1914. All of which suggests that he was already a serving soldier. Possibly his wife moved to Hitchin when he enlisted.
When he arrived in France, his Battalion was already near Mons and about to go into battle. In November between the 6th and 7th their casualties were 7 officers and 140 Ors killed, wounded or missing. On the 9th – the date that Charles was recorded as missing and later killed – there was only a trench raid taking place. However, the 1st Battalion were near Ypres so it a mystery why Charles is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorials in France some 45km away.
Additional Information
After his death £14 13s 7d pay owing was authorised to go to his widow and children on 7 July 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her on 16 October 1919.
His pension cards record Edith Houghton as his widow and as his next of kin, living at 2 Anderson Row, Hitchin and later at 39 Charles Street, Bolton. It also records their children as Gertrude Mary (b 25/5/1910) and Edna May (b 27/3/1912). She appears to have been awarded a pension of 18s 6d a week from 17 April 1916. There are additional notes “Widow not eligible grant’ and “4.10.18 to issue future payments of pension to widow”.
*1 The CWGC records his service number as 7842 however it is 7482 in the pension records, Soldiers’ Effects, Service Medal and Award Rolls, World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards and the SDITGW database
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
