9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
15/12/1891
Died:
26/03/1918 (Killed in Action)
Age:
26
Summary
Arthur Houston was a son of Thomas and Margaret Houston. Arthur was born in Maghera on 15th December 1891. His father was a grocer in Maghera. Arthur, like two other brothers, worked as a clerk in a linen office of William Clark & Sons Ltd in Upperlands. 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Oswald Houston was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Tuesday 25th March 1918.
Further Information
Arthur Houston was a son of Thomas and Margaret Houston. Thomas Houston married Margaret Wright in the district of Magherafelt on 22nd August 1884.
Arthur Oswald Houston was born in Maghera on 15th December 1891.
Family: Thomas Houston, Margaret Houston, Thomas H Houston (born 23rd November 1885), William Arnold Houston (born 29th November 1887), Florence Mary Houston (born 31st March 1889), Gerald Duncan Houston (born 5th October 1890), Arthur Oswald Houston (born 15th December 1891), Claud Leslie Houston (born 23rd August 1893), Marcus Roland Houston (born 29th June 1895).
The 1901 census lists Arthur O as age 8, living with the family at house 110 in Maghera, County Londonderry. His father was a grocer.
The 1911 census lists Arthur Oswald as age 19 living with the family at house 3 in Tamnymullan, Maghera, Londonderry. Arthur, like two other brothers, was working as a clerk in a linen office.
1914
Arthur Houston volunteered as a private in the Derry Battalion of the Ulster Division at the outbreak of the war.
1915
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 26th November 1915: Gerald D Houston (brother of Arthur Houston)
The appointment of Mr Gerald D Houston, of Summerhill, Maghera, to be second lieutenant in the Royal Irish Rifles, has been gazetted. Mr Houston was a member of the clerical staff at Messrs. Clark and sons, linen works, Upperlands, and for a time was employed in the Sirocco Works, Belfast. He recently finished his officer training at Queen’s University, Belfast, and is at present at Ballykinlar.
1916
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 14th July 1916: Upperlands
News has been received that the following men from Upperlands district have been wounded: Private Arthur Houston, Private David McGinnis, Private W J Kelso, Lieutenant Colonel Pierce Turkington, Private William McCracken, Lance Corporal Charles McFadden and Private Thomas McGinnis.
1917
After promotion to the rank of corporal, he was selected for a course of training, and received his commission.
The London Gazette dated 29th August 1917 records that in a short list, which included Arthur Houston, the undermentioned cadets were to become temporary 2nd Lieutenants from 1st August 1917.
1918
2nd Lieutenant Arthur Oswald Houston was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action on Tuesday 25th March 1918. He was 26 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 4th April 1918:
Second Lieutenant Arthur O Houston, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, of Summerhill, Maghera, County Derry, has been killed in action. Second Lieutenant Houston volunteered as a private in the Derry Battalion of the Ulster Division at the outbreak of the war, and after promotion to the rank of corporal, he was selected for a course of training, and received his commission about a year ago. In civil life he was a clerk in the works of Messrs. Clark and Sons, Upperlands.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 8th April 1918: Tribute to Maghera Officer
Mr Thomas Houston, Summerhill, Maghera, has received a letter from Lieutenant Colonel W J Peacocke regarding the death in action of his son, Second Lieutenant A O Houston, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers:-
‘I am more than sorry’, writes the C.O., ‘to have to tell you that your son was killed in action on 26th March. He was at the time gallantly defending a section of trench against an enemy attack. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to lose him, he was a splendid officer, and one I could always trust to do his duty nobly, as he was doing when he was killed.’
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 13th April 1918: Lieutenant A O Houston
Lieutenant A O Houston, Royal Inniskillings, fifth son of Mr Thomas Houston, Summerhill, Maghera, killed in action on the 26th March. Lieutenant Colonel J Peacock, in the course of a letter of condolence to the deceased’s father says:-
‘I am more than sorry to have to write to tell you that your son was killed in action on the 26th March. He was at the time gallantly defending a section of trench against enemy attack. I cannot tell you how sorry I am to have lost him. He was a splendid officer, and one I could always trust.’
Rev J G Paton, Coleraine, at present Chaplain to the Forces, in a touching letter, says:-
‘Both as an N.C.O. and an officer he always did his duty like a man. So far as I can gather, he lost his life in trying to save a wounded brother officer who afterwards died of wounds.’
Lieutenant Houston, who was only about 24 years of age, was the fifth son of Mr Thomas Houston, Summerhill, Maghera. He volunteered in September 1914 with the first contingent of men from the district, joining the Derry Battalion. He took part in many of the big battles on the western front, and was wounded during the heroic charge of the Ulstermen on 1st July 1916, and on recovering, he again returned to the scene of action. He soon attained the rank of corporal, and later he was selected for a course of training. In August last he received his commission, and had he been spared, gave every promise of a brilliant career in the army. Before enlisting he was employed on the clerical staff of Messrs William Clark & Son, Upperlands, where he was highly esteemed by both employers and employees. He was a keen athlete, and was one of the best footballers in South Derry. He was also deeply religious, and was altogether an ideal man.
Needless to say the news of his death has caused genuine regret amongst his old comrades at Upperlands. The sympathy of the entire neighbourhood is with the sorrowing family in their irreparable loss. Two brothers of the late officer are also serving King and country – Lieutenant Gerald D Houston, Royal Irish Rifles, and Corporal Thomas H Houston, Inniskillings.
Memorials
2nd Lieutenant Houston has no known grave and is commemorated on Pozieres Memorial in Picardie, France.
Arthur is listed on the WW1 Roll of Honour at William Clark & Sons Ltd in Upperlands, alongside his brother, Gerald Duncan Houston, who also served in the war.
The CWGC record 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Oswald Houston as the son of Thomas and Margaret Houston, of Summerhill, Maghera, Co. Derry.
