Orders, Decorations and Medals

Pair: Sergeant William Houghton, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1885-7 (1406 Corpl., 1st Bn. R.W. Fus); Royal Humane Society, small bronze medal (successful) (Wm. Houghton, Pte. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 30th Nov 1876) last with damaged suspension claw, slight contact marks, very fine (2) £180-220

William Houghton was born in Little Hollingbury, near Bishopstortford, Essex. A Labourer by occupation and a member of the West Essex Militia, he attested for the Infantry on 31 January 1874. Posted to the 1st and 2nd Battalions Royal Welsh Fusiliers, he served in Gibraltar, October 1874-February 1880 and India, August 1880-March 1891. He then served at Home as a Sergeant with the 4th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers until his discharge on 7 March 1892. On 30 November 1876, whilst based at Gibraltar, he was involved in a sea rescue -

‘On the night of the 30th Nov., 1876, the boat of a Spanish gun-boat was upset in a squall in Catalan Bay, at the back of the Rock of Gibraltar. The night was so dark that the direction of the wreck could only be traced from the cries of the men. A guard of the 2nd battalion of the 23rd or Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who were on duty at the Eastern Beach, assisted by three Spanish boatmen, with difficulty launches a boat, and, being joined by one of the wrecked crew, rescued four men who were clinging to the wreck. On reaching the shore it was ascertained that one of the crew was missing. The boat was again launched, and on reaching the wreck Privates Cox, Dornin, and Kirby swam about the wreck in search of the missing man, whose body was subsequently recovered. Houghton remained in the boat.’

Silver R.H.S. Medals were voted to Cox, Dornin and Kirby, the bronze medal was awarded to Houghton (R.H.S, Case No. 20,084). Sold with copied service papers and R.H.S. extracts.