Soldier Record

Gerald Leighton Houghton joined the 16th Bn Manchester Regiment at age 17 years.

Gerald was my mother's uncle. He joined the 16th Bn Manchester Regiment aged 17 years old. In a letter to his mother, Gerald wrote each week to his mother, his letters always reflected his cheerfulness of spirit in the arduous life he was living. 'I am keeping very well and am at present in a very snug dug out about 20ft below the surface.'We live underground now continually becoming like rats.I wish Pat (dog) was here. He would have had a day out on the rats which abound in the trenches. They are great big things about a foot long.' Gerald was killed instantly on 3rd May 1916 during a heavy bombardment of the trenches aged 19. We have an actual edition of the The Northwich Chronicle dated May 18th 1916 which records a lengthy and fine tribute to Gerald and which gives us as his family great comfort in reading.