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Apr 19, 1897
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Born in Redditch, England to
George Henry and Jane Elizabeth (nee Webb) Houghton
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May 18, 1912
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Embarked the SS Canada in
Liverpool with his parents and 4 siblings
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May 26, 1912
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Disembarked in Montreal,
Quebec and proceeded to Peterborough, Ontario
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Nov 4, 1914
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Attested into the 21st Battalion in
Kingston, Ontario
Ø Number 59482 (temporary number 532)
Ø Next of kin given as George Houghton, father,
Common St., Peterborough, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Labourer
Ø No previous military experience given
Ø Religion given as Church of England
Ø Posted to “E” Company
o
This was later
reorganized into “C” Company and employed as a Scout
On attesting, James Houghton lied about his age,
stating he had been born April 19, 1895, not his actual birth year of
1897. He was only 16 years old.
The 21st Battalion trained in the
Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.
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May 6, 1915
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Embarked the RMS Metagama in
Montreal, Quebec
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May 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Devonport,
England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe,
Kent to continue training
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Aug 24, 1915
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James’ father George, attested
into the 59th Battalion in Peterborough, Ontario. Once in England, he was transferred to the
Royal Canadian Regiment.
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Sep 14, 1915
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Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone
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Sep 15, 1915
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Disembarked in Boulogne,
France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer
Shortly after arrival at the
front, Private Houghton was attached to the 4th Brigade
Headquarters and employed in an Observation Unit watching the enemy lines for
activity.
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Jun 19, 1916
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Granted 7 days leave
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Jun 27, 1916
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Rejoined the brigade from
leave
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Sep 29, 1916
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During heavy fighting at
Regina Trench near Thiepval, France, Private Houghton received shrapnel
wounds to back, neck and left leg. He
was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid
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Oct 2, 1916
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Transferred to a casualty
clearing station for further treatment
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Oct 3, 1916
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Transferred to the No. 18
General Hospital in Camiers, France
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Oct 4, 1916
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During heavy fighting north of
Courcelette, France, James’ father George was killed in action with the Royal
Canadian Regiment. His identifiable
remains were never recovered from the battle field and his name is honoured
on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France. This was part of the same action that his
son James was wounded.
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Oct 7, 1916
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Invalided to England aboard
the Hospital Ship Maheno
On arrival in England he was
admitted to the No. 3 Southern General Hospital in Oxford
Transferred to CCAC (Canadian
Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital
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Oct 25, 1916
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Transferred to the Bearwood
Park Hospital in Wokingham
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Dec 12, 1916
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Discharged from hospital care
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Dec 27, 1916
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Attached to the Canadian
Convalescent Depot for Physical Training
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Feb 10, 1917
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Rejoined the Canadian Casualty
Assembly Centre from the convalescent depot
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Feb 12, 1917
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Attached to the CDD (Canadian
Discharge Depot) in Buxton pending leave to Canada. Although not mentioned in the file, one
would assume this was Compassionate Leave, a result of his father’s death at
the front
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Feb 17, 1917
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Granted leave to Canada until
April 28, 1917
Embarked the SS Scandinavian
in Liverpool at his own expense
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Mar 8, 1917
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Disembarked in Saint John, New
Brunswick and proceeded to Peterborough, Ontario on leave
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Mar 20, 1917
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Transferred to the EORD
(Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) Seaford, for records purposes while on
leave to Canada
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Apr 28, 1917
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Leave extended until May 28,
1917
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May 28, 1917
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Leave extended until June 28,
1917
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Jun 28, 1917
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Leave extended to July 28,
1917
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Aug 28, 1917
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Discharged from the CEF in Kingston,
Ontario
Ø Rank on discharge
Private
Ø Entitled to War
Service Badge Class “A”
Ø Proposed residence
on discharge Brownton Post Office, Peterborough, Ontario
On being discharged, the
expense incurred to travel from England to his home in Canada was refunded.
Following the end of the war,
the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at
581 Patterson Ave., Peterborough, Ontario
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Jul 30, 1918
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Married to Lily Sophia Downes
in Peterborough, Ontario
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Jul 17, 1984
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James Houghton died in
Peterborough, Ontario
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