Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Job Henry Houghton, born in the October quarter of 1862 in Wirksworth, Derbyshire (son of William Houghton and Sarah Barton, 1836) and his wife Sarah Ellen Houghton (nee Nelson, married in the October quarter of 1887 in The Ebenezer Chapel, Wirksworth), born in the January quarter of 1867 in Sheffield, Yorkshire (daughter of John Nelson, 1829-1897 and Sarah Sawyer, 1830-1896). Walter was born in the October quarter of 1897 in Wirksworth and baptised on the 6th April 1898 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth.
Walter’s father died on the 8th July 1904, aged 42 years and was interred on the 19th July in Wirksworth Cemetery.
In April 1911 Walter was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 170, Mount Road, Leicester, together with his widowed mother and siblings, Sarah, a bag trade worker, born in the April quarter of 1888 and baptised on the 22nd July 1891 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth, William, a shoe trade worker, born in the January quarter of 1890 and baptised on the 22nd July 1891 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth, Nellie, a bag trade worker, born in the January quarter of 1894 and baptised on the 10th October 1894 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth, Job Henry, a shoe trade laster, born in the July quarter of 1895 and baptised on the 29th January 1896 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth, Albert, a shoe trade laster, born in the October quarter of 1896 and baptised on the 7th January 1897 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth, Agnes Hettie, a schoolgirl, born on the 11th April 1900 and baptised on the 24th May 1900 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth, Leonard, a schoolboy born in the January quarter of 1902 and baptised on the 29th January 1904 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth and Jane, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1904 and baptised on the 5th October 1904 in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Wirksworth, all his siblings were born in Wirksworth.
Walter’s widowed mother, married Percy Henry Hall in the October quarter of 1912 in Leicester.
FAMILY NOTE: There is no trace of a census return for the family for March 1901.
Walter’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 17373.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field. 6/5/17.
Buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Walter nominated his mother, Mrs. Nellie Hall as his sole legatee.
PD. The War Diary records: 6 May-17 - The Battalion were in the Front-Line trenches at ST. ELIE, an ordinary routine day. Casualties, other ranks “A” Company 1 wounded, “C” Company 1 wounded and 1 killed.
On the 5th February 1918, Walter’s mother, Mrs. Sarah Ellen Hall, of 8, Leicester Street, Leicester, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of fifteen shillings, for both Walter and his brother Albert. A gratuity of four pounds and nine shillings was also awarded.
[recognitum V-VI-MMXXIV]