Fallen Soldiers
Albert HOUGHTON
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Regiment
Rank / Number
Regiment
Rank / Number
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Grave / Memorial
Rainhill remembers on . . .
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Royal Horse Artillery
Not known / Not known
Royal Field Artillery
Gunner / 686149
1891
3rd June 1917 aged 26
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Albert Houghton was born at 3, Beech Road, Huyton in 1891. He was the eldest child of Henry and Mary Houghton. Henry was from Rainhill and his wife from Tarbock.
By 1901, the family had moved to 4, Blundells Lane, Rainhill and according to the 1911 Census they were living at 96, Blundells Lane. Albert never returned there.
Albert enlisted in Liverpool into the Territorial Force of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery as Gunner 686149.
He was a member of “C” Battery, 175 Brigade who went to France in 1916. They were all very inexperienced due to a shortage of guns and ammunition. Many of these men had little relevant training before going into action. They were good at horse drill and cleaning but this counted for little when answering an SOS call with accuracy on a pitch black night. 175 Brigade was a Field Artillery Brigade whose purpose was to support the infantry. Gunner Albert Houghton would be part of a team with an 18 pounder Field Gun.
In May and June 1917, 175 Brigade was part of the Battle of Messines where the Artillery was to be key to the Battle. In the Brigade War Diaries it quotes “Probably as a result of previous enemy action 686149 Gunner Albert Houghton of C Battery died of wounds at a casualty clearing station. He was buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery. 111 B 207.
Gunner Albert Houghton's name is inscribed on the Brass Plaque inside St. Ann's Church, Rainhill and his grave is in Bailleul Cemetery in France.(Grave111 B207)
This photograph was taken by Albert's sister, Florence, when she visited the cemetery in France
