9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
14/06/1890
Died:
01/07/1916 (Killed in Action)
Age:
26
Summary
Frederick Houston was the son of John and Martha Houston. He was born on 14th June 1890. He was one of at least eleven children, all born in the Castledawson area. The family lived in Tamniarn, Castledawson, His father was a millwright. Frederick Houston enlisted in Scotland. Private Frederick Houston was serving with the 9th Battalion of Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.
Further Information
The family name is spelt variously Heuston and Houston throughout the various official records. For simplicity, Houston is used.
Frederick Houston was the son of John and Martha Houston. John Houston and Martha Smith were married on 22nd April 1880 in the district of Magherafelt.
Frederick G Houston was born on 14th June 1890. He was one of at least eleven children, all born in the Castledawson area.
Known family: John Houston, Martha Houston, Martha J Houston (born 20th February 1881), William Houston (born 8th October 1883), Thomas J Houston (born 24th January 1886), Mary Houston (born 14th June 1888, died 3rd July 1889, age 1), Frederick G Houston (born 14th June 1890), Agnes E Houston (born 26th June 1892),
John A Houston (born about 1895), Mary Houston (born 23rd April 1896), Caroline Annie ‘Carrie’ Houston (born 4th March 1898), Augustus S Houston (born 25th April 1900), Albert / Robert E Houston (born 24th June 1902).
The 1901 census lists Fred G as age 10, living with the family at house 25 in Tamniarn, Castledawson, County Londonderry. John Houston was a millwright.
Fred’s mother, Martha Houston, died on 2nd May 1905 in Castledawson, aged 43. Records show that a baby called Margaret Houston died a few days prior on 28th April 1905. It is not known if the two things are connected.
The 1911 census does not list Fred as living with the family at house 20 in Tamniarn, Castledawson.
Frederick Houston enlisted in Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland. Borrowstounness lies on a hillside on the south bank of the Firth of Forth within the Falkirk council area.
Private Frederick Houston was formerly with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (No 22369).
Private Frederick Houston was serving with the 9th Battalion of Princess Victoria's (Royal Irish Fusiliers) when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.
A newspaper report records that Fred was the son of the late Mr John Hueston, Green, Castledawson.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 16th September 1916: Castledawson
Private Fred Hueston, Ulster Division, son of the late Mr John Hueston, Green, Castledawson, is reported missing by the War Office.
Private Frederick Houston is buried in Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension.
Private Frederick Houston is not listed on Bo'ness War Memorial.
