Tom Houghton

Tom Houghton was born in Hatton on 24th October 1896 and baptised at Daresbury on 16th May the following year. He was the son of Walter Houghton (born Whitley) and his wife Mary (nee Maddock Green) who was born in Hatton.

In 1901 the family were living in Hatton and 4-year old Tom had brothers James (9) and Frank (6). The father was a bricklayer’s labourer.

Ten years later the family were still in Hatton and whilst his father was now a roadman, Tom was working as a general labourer.

Tom appeared on the Daresbury Roll of Honour in 1915 and was awarded the 1914-15 Star for his service as a Driver in the Army Service Corps, having embarked for Europe in October 1914. He was then promoted to Acting Corporal and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for the rest of his wartime service. His regimental number was T1/966. He did not return to the village of Hatton until 1920.

Some years later he emigrated to Canada under the £10 passage arrangement, but he did return to Hatton in the mid-1940s to see his family.

Nothing more is known of him after this time.