Name
Samuel George William Houghton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/04/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
8398
Suffolk Regiment
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TOURNAI COMMUNAL CEMETERY ALLIED EXTENSION
II. H. 7.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Samuel was born on 15 July 1893 in St Ives, Huntingdonshire (RN Service Record) (now Cambridgeshire) or Needingworth, Huntingdonshire (1901 and 1911 census) – the two are only 2 miles apart. His parents were John George Webster and Elizabeth Jane Houghton.
In 1901 the family were living at 7 Belgrave Road, Cambridge. Present were both parents: John (38) and Elizabeth (39), with John working as a boot maker. Their children were: Frances R (10), Samuel George William Houghton (7), Joseph Arthur (4) and Harry John (4).
It seems that Samuel joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Servant on 28 September 1909 with his address being given as St Ives, Huntingdon and that he had been a butcher’s assistant. He was described as 5’ 4 1/10” with brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He went for training at H.M.S. Pembroke but seems to have only lasted until 5 October. His service record has ‘Run’ under ‘If discharged whither and what cause’ and the remarks ‘Run 5 Oct 09 Pemb I’ – some sources suggest that ‘RUN’ was the term used for ‘Gone on the Run’ or possibly for being put on a disciplinary charge.
By 1911 the family were living at 302 Mill Road, Cambridge. Present were both parents, John working as a boot maker and repairer. The census recorded they had been married for 28 years with 5 children, all living. Of the children listed above France was absent. Samuel, now 17, was working as a chemist in the Saxon Portland Cement Company.
Samuel married a Charlotte after 1911. We have yet to confirm hew surname, but one possibility is that a Samuel G W Houghton married a Charlotte Fox in 1916, however this was in Doncaster, Yorkshire not Cambridgeshire.
Officially Samuel was recorded as born in Cambridge and enlisted there.
Wartime Service
One record suggest that he may have first been Sergt. 3998 in the 2nd Suffolks, but he was certainly Regimental Number 8398 and served with the 12th Battalion of the Suffolks which was part of the 121st Brigade, 40th Division, XV Corps in the 1st Army. This Division was flung in to stem the tide of the German attack at noon on the 12th April 1918. This was in the Battle of Hazebrouck when the German Spring Offensive was in full flood.
Samuel was badly wounded, near Armentiéres captured by the Germans during their advance and German records mention an amputation. He died of his injuries.
German POW records confirm that Samuel was born on 15 July 1893. He gave his address as St Ives, Huntingdonshire (now Cambridgeshire) and that he was a gym instructor. It also records his contact as Mrs Goode of Mitchell House, Cottenham, Cambs.
He was buried in Plot 2, Row H, Grave 7 of the Tournai Communal Cemetery, Allied Extension in Belgium. The cemetery is some forty miles east of Hazebrouck.
Additional Information
At present no connection to Hitchin has been found.
After his death £24 10s 0d was authorised to go to his widow, Charlotte, on 16 August 1919.
His pension cards record Charlotte Houghton as his widow and dependant, living at 22 Ickleford Road, Hitchin. She was awarded grant of £5 on 18 December 1918 and a pension of 16s 3 a week from 16 June1919.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
