Six: Private J. A. Houghton, 3rd City of London Rifle Volunteers and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later Sergeant, London Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (64 Pte. A, Houghton, C.I.V.); 1914-15 Star (3666 L. Sjt. J. A. Houghton, 3-Lond.R.) second digit officially corrected; British War and Victory Medals (3666 Sjt. J. A. Houghton. 3-Lond. R.); Defence Medal; Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, E.VII.R. (127 Pte. J. A. Houghton. 7/ London Regt.) nearly very fine or better (6) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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James Albert Houghton was born in Lambeth, Surrey in 1878. A print compositor by occupation, he joined the 3rd City of London Rifle Volunteers in 1896 and served in South Africa with the Infantry Battalion, City Imperial Volunteers during the Boer War. A letter written by Houghton, printed in the City Press 8 September 1900, made the following observations:
‘A young fellow in my house [Pte. A. Carden] has just gone under with enteric..., people have offered us as much as 5/- for a coat button and 30/- for the letters “C.I.V.” on our hats’.
After the C.I.V.’s return from South Africa, the same publication, on 7 November 1900, reported on a complimentary dinner given to Houghton by William Dowling of the Pitt’s Head, Old Bailey.

Transferring to the 7th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment he was subsequently awarded the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. After the outbreak of the Great War he attested for the 7th Middlesex Regiment on 20 September 1914. Immediately transferring to the 3rd (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment he served with them on the Western Front from 9 May 1915. Promoted Sergeant on 1 February 1916, he transferred to the Labour Corps on 15 December 1917, was disembodied on 21 February 1919, and was awarded a Silver War Badge.

Sold together with the recipient’s Freedom of the City of London parchment certificate.