Harold Hough was born in Widnes in 1897, the second of three sons of Thomas Hough and his wife Martha Jane Langdon who married in 1892. Thomas's older brother Joseph was born in Widnes on 25 September 1894. The family of four moved to 52 Gamble Road, Thornton before the 1901 Census and Thomas worked at United Alkali as a labourer. Another son, Frank, was born in Thornton on 8 December 1905.
Harold attended Church Road Council School, Thornton. When the census was taken on 2 April 1911 the family were still living at 52 Gamble Road. Joseph had become an assistant in a grocery store. Harold, aged 14, was an apprentice to Thomas Eastham at his works in Holmes Road making cash tills, organ pedals, cabinets etc. Harold also studied at evening classes run by the Fleetwood Technical School.
On 2 September 1914 Harold enlisted in the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, claiming he was aged 19 (the minimum age for service abroad) when in fact he was only 16. Mere fragments of his service record survive but we know that he was sent to France on 17 July 1915.
News that Harold had been wounded arrived in a letter dated 2 August 1916, from Pte. Bond to his mother at 50 Gamble Road, "I have a lot of bad news to tell you, and that is that S. Ruddle [Elijah Ruddle] was killed on Sunday last, and Harold Hough was badly wounded on the same day. He had part of his leg blown off." In fact, Harold had died from his wounds on 31 July, the day after they were received. He was aged 18 and unmarried.
Rev. J. Burton, Pastor of the Fleetwood Primitive Methodist Church, was forced to issue a correction in his monthly circular letter which he distributed to those connected with his Church or Sunday School. "Last month we reported Private Harold Hough (Thornton), K.O.R.L. Regiment, as slightly wounded. Alas! the blow our comrade received was fatal. Harold was a noble lad, brave and good. I see him even now leaving my door when last over on leave from France, laughing, hopeful, fearless and loyal, and I grieve that I shall not grasp his hand again, nor look into his merry eyes."
Pte. Harold Hough, 13154, 7th Battalion King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment is buried in Plot 1 Row L Grave 29 in the Albert Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.
© www.riverwyre.com 2024