PRIVATE JOSEPH FREDERICK HOUSTON
ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS
22ND JUNE 1918 AGE 25
BURIED: ESQUELBECQ MILITARY CEMETERYFRANCE, FRANCE
Joseph Houston died of wounds in a Casualty Clearing Station. It was the custom for the matron, or a senior nursing sister, to write to the next-of-kin and tell them of their relation's death. This would be how Mrs Annie Houston learnt of her son's dying words.
Annie Houston was a widow who ran a grocery shop in Dromman More, Armagh. In the 1911 census, Joseph was the only other occupant of the household. He gave his occupation as shop assistant - in the grocery shop perhaps?
Joseph volunteered in 1915; his medal index card showing that he was entitled to a 1915 Star having entered a theatre of war - France - on 4 October 1915. He served with the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers whose war diary has been transcribed for the dates 1 September 1917 to 9 June 1919. It shows that the battalion had not been in action during either May or June and any time they had spent in the trenches had been very quiet.