GUNR ANDW HOUSTON R.F.A.
22182 Gunner Andrew Houston
58th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
died 5th June 1918
aged 37
Pernes British Cemetery
Freeland Church Memorial, Bridge of Weir
Son of Alexander Houston and Ann McNaughton
The Wheatsheaf, Bridge of Weir
died 5th June 1918
aged 37
Pernes British Cemetery
Freeland Church Memorial, Bridge of Weir
Son of Alexander Houston and Ann McNaughton
The Wheatsheaf, Bridge of Weir
His Life
Andrew was born on 24th April 1882 in The Wheatsheaf Inn in Bridge of Weir and was the seventh son of Alexander Houston , an innkeeper from Kilbarchan, and Ann McNaughton from Kilmichael, Argyll who had married in Bonhill, Dunbartonshire on 29th December 1865.
In 1871, Alexander (31), Ann (30) and their first two sons, David and Dugald, were living in the Toll House, Bridge of Weir. Alexander was a spirit dealer. Alice McNaughton (15) from Kilmartin, Argyllshire was a general servant.
In 1881 the Houston family of eight - Alexander, Ann and six sons, was in The Wheatsheaf, Bridge of Weir, where Alexander was proprietor. The family had a domestic servant, Elizabeth Rob (16) from England.
In 1891, the family, now of seven including Andrew (8), were still in The Wheatsheaf. Dugald was a joiner and the others were still at school. The eldest son David and third son Alexander were not in the family home.
By 1901 Andrew was 19 and working as a butcher. He and his brother William, a grocer's assistant, were boarders with the family of Robert Millar in Gryffe Place, Bridge of Weir. Donald (25), a shirt salesman, was boarding with the Fleming family, also in Gryffe Place.
Andrew volunteered for active service at Bridge of Weir on 12th September 1914 when he was 32 years old and was enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery.
Gunner Andrew Houston first joined a theatre of war in France on 13th July 1915.
He survived the war for almost 3 years, and enjoyed at least one return home on furlough in January 1916 when he was based at Armentieres in France. The 58th Brigade of the RFA was attached to the 11th (Northern) Division. His time and location of death suggests he was killed during the German advance of Spring 1918. In June 1918 the 58th Brigade of the RFA was stationed at Philosophe, between Bethune and Lens in the Pas de Calais and records the 5th June 1918 as a "quiet day" with one Other Ranks wounded in D Battery. If this was Andrew, it was to be a very quiet day for him. He is commemorated in Pernes British Cemetery in the Pas de Calais, some 25 miles south-west of Armentieres.
Siblings
| 1871 Census | 1881 Census | 1891 Census | 1901 Census | 1911 Census | Birthplace | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Age | Name | Age | Name | Age | Name | Age | Name | Age | |
| David | 2 | David | 12 | Mary W | 21 | Renfrew | ||||
| Dugald | 1 | Dugald | 10 | Dugald | 21 | Glasgow, Lanark | ||||
| Alexander | 8 | Bridge of Weir | ||||||||
| Donald | 5 | Donald | 15 | Donald* | 25 | Bridge of Weir | ||||
| James | 3 | James | 13 | Bridge of Weir | ||||||
| William | 11 mo | William | 10 | William* | 20 | Bridge of Weir | ||||
| Andrew | 8 | Andrew* | 19 | Bridge of Weir |
* = not in Alexander and Ann Houston's family home - see text for details
Sources
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Scottish National War Memorial
- Andrew Houston birth certificate, 24th April 1882
- 1871 UK Census: Parish: Houston and Killellan; ED:4; Page:12; Line:3; Roll: CSSCT1871_100.
- 1881 UK Census: Parish: Houston and Killellan; ED:4; Page:20; Line:16; Roll: cssct1881_168.
- 1891 UK Census: Parish: Houston and Killellan; ED:4; Page:3; Line:25; Roll: CSSCT1891_184.
- 1901 UK Census: Parish: Kilbarchan; ED:3; Page:16; Line:21; Roll: CSSCT1901_188.
- War Diaries: WO-95-1808-2: 58th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. National Archives.
- 4th June 1918. PHILOSOPHE. Major E.M. Hutchinson (late commanding B/58) awarded D.S.O. in King's Birthday Honours List for exceptional devotion to duty and gallantry during period of 6 months preceding Feby 1918. The 3rd Infantry Bde of the I Division carried out a raid on the enemy's trenches in A21d this evening. Zero hour was 9.50 pm. A/58 cooperated (and also a 75mm and 4.5 How Bty of the Portuguese Group) by firing 4 guns from Zero until Zero + 35 on railway from A28a 5.5 to A22b 8.3. Capt H Lowther (late D/58) rejoined the Brigade on the 2nd inst from the 6th DA and is posted as 2nd in command of D/58 - Capt Aikinhead getting command of the Battery. Usual night harassing fire. Enemy again barraged our front line at 2am this morning and we retaliated.
- 5th June 1918.Quiet day. 1 OR D/58 wounded at Bty positions today. C/58 took 2 guns out of action last night? and brought them, together with one of them at the school, to the Portuguese Range today where they were calibrated. It is understood that one gun will be condemned for .... ....ing. Information received at 8pm that a prisoner under special examination had stated an attack on a large scale was imminent on this front with the Main? ridge as objective. I attach no importance to this as many prisoners say an attack is due to be mae. Extra night harassing fire was carried out between 10pm and 4am on roads tracks and communications. We fired 650 rounds 18 pdr and 100 4.5 How. 4th Portuguese fired 400 75mm and 100 4.5 How. The night was fairly quiet.
- 6th June 1918. Very fine day. Increased harassing fire as for last night fired tonight. Nothing of any importance today.
- Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette
- 12th September 1914: Andrew Houston, butcher signed Royal Field Artillery
- 29th January 1916: Gunner Andrew Houston is at home on furlough and returns to Armentieres, France today.
- 12th September 1914: Andrew Houston, butcher signed Royal Field Artillery
- Medals: Victory, British War, 1915 Star.
TO CITE THIS PAGE: MLA style: "Bridge of Weir Memorial". Date of viewing. http://www.bridgeofweirmemorial.co.uk/profile-houstonandrew.html