Person

John Houchen was born in Langley Moor in 1896. His father was Thomas George Houchen (1870-1940), a coal miner from Old Shildon. His mother was Margaret Houchen nee Johnson (1869-1948), a coal miner’s daughter from Sacriston. His parents married in 1895 and the 1911 census records that during their 15 years of marriage they had nine children, four of whom had died in infancy. Of the living children, John was the only boy with four younger sisters. In 1901 the Houchen family were living in Red Rows, Edmondsley. In 1911 they were recorded at Nettlesworth Old Pit, Edmondsley. John was working as a pony driver at a colliery.

John attested in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) on, or soon after, the outbreak of war. He became private 2646 and served in 1st/8th Battalion. Within days of arriving in France on 20 April 1915, John’s battalion was thrown into action near Ypres, Flanders, Belgium to stop a German attack towards the Channel ports. An estimated 19 officers and 574 other ranks from the battalion were killed, wounded or missing in action on 25/26 April 1915. John was recorded missing “death presumed on or since 26 April 1915”. This may have taken some time to be confirmed to his family and alongside his photograph he was reported missing in the Chester le Street Chronicle of 11 June 1915.

It is believed that at the time of his death John’s family were living at 7 Bruce Street, Daisy Hill. In his will he left £3 7s 10d to his father who also received his war gratuity of £3 0s 0d. His body was never identified for burial and he is honoured on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres, Belgium. He is remembered locally on the Plaque 1914-18, Browney Colliery Council School and the Plaque 1914-18 St Peter’s Church, Sacriston. He is also honoured in the Book of Remembrance 1914-18, Durham Light Infantry, Durham Cathedral.

John Houchen was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Witton Gilbert

Birth date: 1896

Death date: 26-Apr-1915

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 23 Red Row, Edmondsley (1901 census)
Nettlesworth Old Pit, Edmondsley (1911 census)

Education: Browney Colliery Council School

Employment: Coal miner – pony driver (1911 census)

Family: Parents: Thomas George Houchen (1870-1940), Margaret Houchen nee Johnson (1869-1948)
Siblings: Jane Houchen (1898), Mary Eliza Houchen (1903), Martha Houchen (1909), Christiana Houchen (1910)

Military service:

2646
Private
1/8 Durham Light Infantry

Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
Book of Remembrance 1914-18, Durham Light Infantry, Durham Cathedral
Plaque 1914-18, Browney Colliery Council School
Plaque 1914-18 St Peter’s Church, Sacriston

Gender: Male

Contributed by Sacriston Heritage Group | Durham County Record Office. Jack Mulligan and Lewis Cooper