South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
|
|
|
Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals | Thiepval Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 22 March 1915 in France | ~ | Hockley Heath War Memorial |
| Knowle War Memorial | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Knowle Soldiers Chapel |
| Battle of Bazentin (Battle of the Somme) | October 1914 in Coventry | Umberslade Baptist Church |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| near Ovillers | ~ | |
Circumstances of Death
|
Victor is listed as being killed in action on 14 Jul 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The 1st/7th Battalion war diary for the 13th and 14th July are transcribed below. Bouzincourt 13-7-1916: Fine & warm at 1.30pm Battn moved by motor lorries to just outside Bouzincourt from there we moved in fighting order to Albert where lay down in a field until midnight having had orders thast the Bttn would attack NE of La Boisselle at 7.30am NE of La Boisselle 14-7-1916: Moved into position in trenches and were heavily shelled going into La Boisselle. At 7.30am, after artillery preparation A&B Coys proceeded to assault. They reached their objective. Many casualties resulted chiefly from machine guns the following officers being killed 2nd/Lt Bullock and the following attached officers of the 3rd Dorset Regiment - 2nd Lt Jones, 2nd Lt Baker and 2nd Lt Forman. We held the trench for 7 hours when we had to evacuate it on account of the enemy's extremely heavy enfilade fire both shell and machine guns. Lieut Col Knox who led the attack and had shown the greatest bravery thoughout was wounded later. Major Hanson them took command of the Bttn. Our casualties estimated at 150 of whom 68 were reported killed. [Victor's name then appears in an appendix listing all those killed and wounded during the attack] |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| Jul Qtr 1897 in Hockley Heath | 20 Jun 1897 at Nuthurst, Hockley Heath |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| John (deceased) and Ruth Elizabeth Houghton | Station Road, Knowle |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1897 - Hockley Heath | 1911 - School |
| 1901 - Bandy Street, Hockley Heath | |
| 1911 - Hockley Heath (boarding with Douglas family) | |
| 1914 - Station Road, Knowle | |
- Victor's father, John, died in 1904 and by 1907 his mother Ruth was living at Solihull Workhouse where she gave birth to her 4th son,
Reuben and they were still there in by the time of the 1911 census. As can be seen above Ruth moved to Knowle before 1916.