Houston, Thomas Hanson (Thomas)

Rifleman

No. 12865, 15 Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles

Died of disease on Wednesday 29 December 1915 (aged 22)

Buried:

Bertrancourt Military Cemetery, France (Plot 1 Row A Grave 6)

Commemorated:

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour (Page 275)

Crumlin Road Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour

BIOGRAPHY

Thomas Hanson Houston was born on 16 July 1893 in Gray’s Hill, Bangor and he was a son of James and Martha Houston (formerly Johnston, nee Hanson) who were married on 5 August 1892 in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church.  James Houston, a widowed labourer from Ballymagee, was a son of Robert Houston, a labourer.  Martha Johnston (nee Hanson) from Bangor was a daughter of John Hanson, a shoemaker.

Previously, Martha Houston (formerly Johnston, nee Hanson) had been married to Samuel Johnston.  They were married on 26 December 1872 in Coleraine Parish Church of Ireland Church.  Samuel Johnston, a widowed flax dresser from Commons, Coleraine was a son of William Johnston, an engine driver.

Previously, James Houston had been married to Martha Christie and they had a son named Alexander who was born on 28 August 1881 in Bangor Demesne.  Martha Houston (nee Christie) died of phthisis in Abbey Street, Bangor on 4 July 1891 (aged 37).

James and Martha Houston (formerly Johnston, nee Hanson) had three children:

Thomas Hanson (Thomas, born 16 July 1893 in Gray’s Hill, Bangor)

Caroline Hilda (born 2 September 1895 in Ballystockart, Comber)

Martha (born 4 January 1897 at 56 Distillery Street, Belfast)

Thomas Hanson Houston lived at several different addresses:

1893   Gray’s Hill, Bangor

1895   Ballystockart, Comber

1897   56 Distillery Street, Belfast

1901   57 Upper Meadow Street, Belfast

1911   61 Castle Street, Bangor

1913   161 Snugville Street, Belfast

1914   156 Silvio Street, Belfast

1915   23 Upper Malvern Street, Belfast

In 1918 his widow lived at 19 Hopewell Street, Belfast

In civilian life Thomas Hanson Houston worked as a labourer and on 25 March 1913 he and Sarah Jane McIlwaine were married in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Cathedral Belfast.  Thomas Houston (aged 21) from 161 Snugville Street, Belfast was a son of James Houston, a labourer.  Sarah Jane McIlwaine (aged 21) from 161 Malvern Street, Belfast was a daughter of Samuel McIlwaine, a tailor.

Thomas Hanson Houston and Sarah Jane Houston (nee McIlwaine) had two children:

Mary Davidson (born 27 May 1914 at 156 Silvio Street, Belfast)

Jane Gray (born 28 February 1916 at 23 Upper Malvern Street, Belfast, two months after her father died of disease in service; Jane died of whooping cough 30 April 1918 at 19 Hopewell Street, Belfast aged two years two months)

Rifleman Thomas Houston (No. 12865) died of ulceration/cancer of the pylorus on 29 December 1915 in a military hospital in France and he was buried in Bertrancourt Military Cemetery.

Rifleman Thomas Houston (No. 12865) is commemorated in the Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour (Page 275) and in the Crumlin Road Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour.