William HOUGHTON

‘Clitheroe Times’ (18 August 1916)

(Kindly supplied by Shirley Penman of Clitheroe and Dorothy Falshaw of Gisburn)

SLAIDBURN

MEMORIAL SERVICE

The rector of Slaidburn (Rev. J.C. Garnett) preached a special memorial sermon on Sunday to the late Private William Houghton, who was the village constable at Slaidburn, prior to the war, and who was killed in France. Deceased’s favourite hymns were sung and Miss Ost played the Dead March. Private Houghton was in the Black Watch. Information of his death came from a comrade and Mrs. Houghton later received confirmation from the Lieutenant-Colonel who spoke in praiseworthy terms of her husband, and of the magnificent spirit of the men under his charge, adding that they had fully maintained the proud traditions of the regiment. Private Houghton, who was only 26 years of age, enlisting in November last with two other West Riding colleagues – P.C.’s Hartley and Green. Private Houghton went to France in April. He had been in hospital at the base for six weeks suffering from septic poisoning as the result of mosquito bites, and only returned to his company the night before he met his death. Naturally anxious to know of his friend Hartley’s whereabouts, he was putting his inquiries to a comrade when a sniper hit him. The heartfelt sympathy of the villagers and of her husband’s many friends and acquaintances is felt for the widow and her two young children in their great loss. Mrs. Houghton lost her only brother at the Dardanelles, where he was killed three hours after landing.

The Rector, preaching from 1. Peter v., 7, “Casting all your care upon Him for He careth for you” said: In taking this text one’s thoughts are of those whose lives have been darkened by the war. Few families have escaped the horrors of it. We try to keep right, but things are not as usual. Everything is interfered with, the keen desire for pleasure has gone for the most part. Some are suffering financial loss through the war. But beyond all was the overwhelming anxiety of those who had fathers, sons, brothers and sweethearts at the front. They were proud to serve their King and country and hard as the parting was loved ones had joined in the pardonable pride. Still there was the constant anxiety and suspense. The waiting for news and too often ‘bad news’ had come to homes. The text had immense comfort in it for those whose hearts are heavy with grief. Earthly comfort had its value. For instance the fact that he who died in a foreign land died as a hero and could never be branded as a coward or a shirker, had comfort in it. They in Slaidburn, and indeed the whole country, were grateful to him and to the other lads from Bolland who had laid down their lives. They had died for the nation and as long as the nation lasted they would be remembered. On a ‘Roll of Honour’ in our old Church their names will stand for all time and succeeding generations will learn of their brave deeds. Engraved thereon would be the names of George Bannister, Harold Charnock, John Eccles, Walter Isherwood, Fred Wilcock, Wm. Winder and William Houghton. It was in memory of the last named soldier that service was being held. He knew him as a good officer of the police force, always attentive to duty, carried out without fear or favour. Indeed he was held in high esteem by his superior officers and would soon no doubt have received promotion. He made a smart and brave soldier – the letter fro his Colonel testified to that. He was also a good and affectionate husband and father, a clean living man with a pure mind and high ideals. As such we should remember him. He had often been prayed for in our intercession services and no doubt those prayers had helped him, helped him to fight and die. Public intercession services are of the greatest value in this direction and those who attend them were doing a great service to our fighting men. It was no little comfort to the widow and fatherless children that their loved one was so highly thought of. The real comfort, however, was in the text “Casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you.”

The Rector also made special reference to the late Mr. Thomas Rudd. He spoke of him as a good and upright man, one who sought to serve God faithfully. Mr. Rudd was highly respected, especially by Lord Crawshaw and his family and in whose service he had been for a large number of years.

Mr. Garnett held a memorial service at Bishop’s House on Sunday last for Rifleman William Winder, son of Mr. Richard Winder, of Holme Head, Dunsop Bridge. He said William Winder was a good son and a thoughtful and earnest young man. The loss to his relations and to those who knew him best was a heavy one. He was a brave soldier and his death was a loss to the country that he served so well.