Tom's Story.
Thomas Hough; is named on the Baptist Church Memorial He is also named on on St. Mary’s “Fallen” Memorial. Thomas is also named on the R.o.H. along with two other lads, H. Hough and J. Hough.
C.W.G.C. remember a T. Hough with the Service No 31585; Private with the 2nd Bn. South Lancashire Regiment. He died 7th Aug. 1917 aged 24, son of William and Annie Hough.Remembered with Honour at the Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery. (Thomas was mentioned in Memorial Service 14th Sept. 1917, P2/C1.)
Guardian Article Friday 7th Sept. 1917
“Mr. and Mrs William Hough of Wall Hill Farm, Acton Bridge, have received news of the death in action of their son, Private Tom Hough, of the South Lancashire Regiment. Mr. Hough who is a well known public man in the district and for a number of years has served on the Northwich Board of Guardians and Rural Council, received a communication from the War Office a few days ago and later there came a letter informing him that his son was killed by a shell on August 9th. (The Guardian states 9th Aug. Commonwealth War Graves state 7th.) It appears that at the time he was in a dug-out waiting a move into a support trench. He was shot through the head and legs and death was instantaneous. A number of other men were wounded by the same shell. Private Hough is referred to by his comrades as an excellent soldier and that they state that they have lost “a good pal.”
Private Hough was amongst the first from the village of Acton Bridge to join the Colours on the outbreak of war. He volunteered in October 1914 and was enrolled in the Cheshire Yeomanry. He spent some time at Chester and afterwards continued his training in Northumberland. Later he was transferred from the Yeomanry to a cycle corps and after that he was placed in the infantry. He was drafted to the front twelve months ago with the South Lancashires and attached to the Lewis Gun Section. He had taken part in a number of engagements and had experienced several miraculous escapes when in the thick of fighting. Private Hough was the youngest son and was 24 years of age. He was educated at Weaverham Grammar School under Mr. Trickett. When he left school he was apprenticed as a butcher to Mr. George E. Hormbrey of Northwich and afterwards he assisted his father on the farm. His bright and cheerful disposition gained for him the esteem of all with whom he came in contact and he was well liked by the villagers of Weaverham and Acton Bridge. It was his kindly nature and thought for others that made him so universally popular amongst his comrades in the Army and is shown by the tributes of respect contained in the letter from one of his friends.
Private Hough was a regular attendee of the Milton Baptist Church, where his father has held office as secretary and senior deacon for many years and has also acted as superintendent of the Sunday School. In addition to being the representative of the township on the rural authority, Mr. Hough has held position of chairman of the Acton Bridge Council since its formation.” Private Hough was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.
Thomas Hough was born in Acton (Bridge) and he enlisted at Chester. His Cheshire Yeomanry Service No was 1452. In the August 2014 Newsletter was a copy of Thomas’s very moving letter to his family that Margaret Nixon had forwarded to the newsletter editors.
Eventually today 2nd June 2016 I found the newspaper article which included the letter from Thomas as mentioned above. It was in the Chester Chronicle on the 1st Sept. 1917. Some sections may duplicate the above articles but I have included the full article for completeness;
Mr. and Mrs. William Hough of Wall Hill Farm, Acton Bridge, received the distressing news from the War Office on Friday that their son, Private Tom Hough, of the South Lancashire Regiment, has been killed in action on August 7th. The information came as a severe blow to the family, his sister only having received a letter from him quite recently, dated August 7th. The deceased, who was 24 years of age, was the youngest son, and was educated at the Weaverham Grammar School, under Mr. Trickett. On leaving school as an apprentice to butchering with Mr. Hormbrey, Northwich. Afterwards he assisted his father's on the farm. He was very conscientious and of bright and sunny disposition, which made him a general favourite. Regularly he attended the Milton Baptist Church, where his father has held the office of secretary and senior deacon for many years and for 30 years has acted as superintendent of Sunday School. Mr. Hough senr., has also represented Acton Bridge on the board of Guardians and Rural Council for 20 years, being vice-chairman of the latter authority and since the formation of the Parish Council he has filled the position of chairman.
The deceased was one of the first from the village to offer his services to the King and Country. He volunteered in October 1914, in the Cheshire Yeomanry and after spending sometime in training at Chester was sent to Northumberland. He was transferred from the Cavalry to a Cycle Corps and subsequently placed in the Infantry and 12 months ago he was drafted to France with the South Lancashires and attached to the Lewis Gun Section. During the last 12 months he had been in the thick if the fighting and had had some remarkable escapes but through all he maintained a spirit of calm optimism.
The relatives have the deepest sympathy of the residents in the district in the great sorrow which has befallen them. The last letter the deceased wrote was addressed to his sister and bore the date on which he was officially reported to have been killed. In the course of the letter he said; “I am taking the first opportunity of writing after passing through my worst experiences but am thankful to say that the good God has once more brought me safely through. We are behind the line at present but may be up again any time; we are either up or down the line, waiting for orders now, lets hope it's down for a rest. The weather has been terrible ; the ground was up to the knees in mud and water. My feet were in an awful state but I am feeling better now after a change. Never before have I experienced anything like the last affair in the whole of my 12 months out here. I would like to tell you more but will reserve it for a nice quite chat round the old fireside again. I can and am willing to stand up anywhere and prove to my fellow-creatures the power of prayer and what it's done for me......... I have had home, the power of prayer and religion brought home to me in such a light that I never saw before . My heart fairly ached for the poor lads out here, especially in this last affair. The sights I saw were too bad to relate and to think that nothing could be done for them made it all the worse........ I am feeling fairly well after having a proper meal; bully beef and biscuits for five days and cold tea in petrol tins is not very tempting fare but that was our little lot while in action. What a treat it was to find a parcel waiting for me …..... If you follow the newspapers and note where the big push is being made you will be able to form some idea where I am situated. Ask any wounded soldier where “hell fire” corner is and you will find out what part I am in. Please excuse the vulgar expression but the corner is a place well known to the Tommies and hundreds of lives have been lost there........ My only prayer and hope is that I may be spared to return safely and become a comfort to all at home after three years of anxiety you have had and the three years of weary experiences I have passed through.” The writer concluded with the remark; “ I hope you will not think this is a down-hearted letter; my heart is not broken yet but it has been badly bent at times.”
Researched Bob Heaton