William Houchen

Born: 24th July 1882

Died: 20th October 1917

Rank and Regiment: Private 202529 in the 8th/9th Battalion of The Norfolk Regiment

Resting Place: New Irish Farm Cemetery in West Vlaanderen in Belgium - Stone 1357, Cemetery reference X. D. 6

Memorial: St. Peter’s, Reymerston, United Kingdom

William Houchen was born on 24 July 1882 in Great Ellingham. His parents were William and Emily Houchen of North Green Farm. His siblings were Charlie, Leonard, Sarah, Frank, Arthur, Matilda and Philip.

He is recorded as attending Hardingham School from 8 July 1895 (starting school on the same day as his brother Charlie) to 6 September 1897, leaving to become an agricultural labourer.

William married Elizabeth Gorbould at Holt in 1905. They had a daughter Emily, born in July 1906; William returned to Reymerston for Emily’s baptism on 2 September 1906. The 1911 Census found William working as an Outfitter’s Assistant and living in Holt.

He enlisted as a Private in the 9th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment (202529) at Cromer, later transferring to the 8th Battalion. He was killed in action on 20th October 1917 at the Battle of Passchendale and is buried at New Irish Farm cemetery in West Vlaanderen in Belgium (stone 1357, Cemetery reference X. D. 6), one of the minority of soldiers whose body was identified. 

Elizabeth never remarried after William’s death; she and Emily are recorded in the 1939 Register for Erpingham, with Emily (who never married) working as a bookkeeper. Elizabeth died in 1967, Emily the following year.

New Irish Farm Cemetery, Belgium