He served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regt and was later in the Staffordshire County Constabulary. He had been married 2 months at the time of his death.
He was a Cheltonian who formerly lived in King's Road, and whose sister lives in the town. He was a nephew of Mr. A. Wiggett, of Church Farm, Prestbury. He was only married on Boxing day 1920. Eldest son of late Mr W H Houghton of Cheltenham. A newspaper report in Independent says that the widow was in the town of Longford when the bodies were brought back
1894 Oct 31. Born Cheltenham. His father, William was a plumber, and appears to have died in 1899 in Bristol.
1901 census. Living with widowed mother, at Kings Rd, Cheltenham. She is a shirt needle woman
He was educated at the St. Paul's Practising School. Pupils at the Practising School were expected to attain a certain standard of work in areas such as grammar, geography, algebra, human physiology, woodwork and the three “Rs”. Physical education was also taught. Later on, more advanced pupils were also taught shorthand and typing. The Practising School operated for nearly 100 years on the College site
1911 census Living with his widowed mother at 69 Leighton Road Cheltenham. He is working as a dairymans assistant with his uncle Mr. A. Wiggett, of Church Farm, Prestbury
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1914 Aug 11. Enlisted in 12 Lancers when a Farmer's Pupil.
1915 Jun 30. Landed in France with Lancers
1915 Jul 31 Joined regt in the field
1915 Dec 1. Appointed L/Cpl
1916 Feb 26 Attached to MGC
1916 Apr 27. Promoted Cpl
1917 Jul 17. Promoted Sgt
1917 Sep 16 Back to UK, Posted for commission to 11 Officer Cadet Bn
1917 Oct 2. He is posted back to a training brigade as a sergeant
1917 Dec 12. Posted as sgt to MGC
1918 Feb In hospital with hernia
1918 May 19, Commissioned into Royal Sussex Regt. Cadets to be temp 2nd Lts.
1919 Mar Back to France
1919 Nov 29. R. Suss. R. The undermentioned temp. 2nd Lts. to be temp. Lts.: J. A. Houghton.
1920 Jan 2 Admitted to Hospital. Abrasion of Fraenum. Due to "sexual intercourse" His address was 17 Denmark Villas, Cheltenham
1920 Mar 23. 52nd R. Sussex. Regt. Temp. Lt. J. A. Houghton, relinquishes his commission on completion of service, and retains the rank of Lt. His release had been delayed for a few days because "he is transport officer in this battalion and owing to the delay in getting mules away he was unable to proceed to demobilization"
Joins Staffordshire Constabulary. Stationed at Bilston
1920 Dec 26 John Houghton was married to a Stafford young lady, Kathleen Daisy Wilks, who at the time of his death was living in Ireland.
1920 Dec 29. Joined the ADRIC with RIC no 80249, ADRIC no 1375
1921 Feb 2. Killed at Ballinlee, Granard, Longford. A large IRA party ambushed 2 Crossley Tenders with Auxiliaries. 4 of the Auxiliaries died in the ambush. M Coy Longford
He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery after a full military funeral. The local Cheltenham paper reported the funeral.The remains of the deceased were brought to England on Saturday by a guard of half a dozen comrades, with whom Mrs Houghton, the widow of the deceased, travelled, and who arrived in Cheltenham during the morning. This evening they will be removed from the Midland Station to the residence of the deceased's sister, 17 Denmark Villas, Hewlett Street. The funeral will take place at mid-day on Monday next, at the Cheltenham Cemetery.... "A great crowd witnessed the starting of the funeral procession at mid-day on Monday from No. 17 Denmark Villas, and numbers followed it to the cemetery, where also were assembled a considerable concourse of Prestbury folk... A posse of police, under Inspector Millard, and a firing party from the Gloucestershire Regiment's Depot at Horfield preceded the funeral car. The firing party consisted of 22 rank and file and was commanded by Capt. Young. With the flag-draped coffin and its surrounding wreaths, the cortege proceeding at the slow march, made a solemn sight. The grave is situated to the rear of the cemetery chapel. In view of the numbers attending, the service (at which the Rev. Roland Cooke - senior curate of Cheltenham, officiated) was taken at the graveside. As the coffin was borne from the hearse to the grave, the firing party, with arms reversed, formed a guard of honour, and after pronouncement of the benediction, three volleys rang into the stillness and the shrill notes of the Last Post sounded farewell to a true son of England. Among the mourners, the young widow was a pathetic figure. The Cheltenham relatives attending were..... Behind the relatives came three officers of the deceased's Company, "M" Co., Auxiliary Division, R.I.C. - Major D.H. Pegler, R.A.; Capt. H.A. Paton-Bruhl, Queen's Regiment; and Capt. C.H. Maddox, Welsh Regiment and R.F.C.
1921 Feb 3 Widows pension paid
