Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 5049514

Reference: WO372/23

Title: Medal Index Card

Description: Medal index cards were created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.

URL: http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D6175912
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

UPP: GBM/MCI/5054948

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 7410924

Reference: CWGCCASUALIWM

Title: Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Casualty Records

Description: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) commemorate First World War servicemen and women and members of some civilian organisations who died before 31 August 1921 while in Commonwealth military service or of causes attributable to service.

Connected by: Imperial1

URL: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/837365/
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

UPP: GBM/CWGCCASUALIWM/665640

Additional: This record has been automatically matched to the Life Story by IWM, using rules based on name, rank, number, regiment and service.

Credit: © Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Source information

ID: 8964839

Title: Pioneer Lennox James Houston M.M.

Description: In uniform, taken alongside his older brother John, probably in 1915 before John went to France.

Connected by: Bill72103

Source information

ID: 8964845

Title: Len as a cadet

Description: In uniform as a cadet when he was a boy.

Connected by: Bill72103

Source information

ID: 8964848

Title: Lennox Houston

Description: This is a photo of a drawing of Len from a family collection.

Connected by: Bill72103

Source information

ID: 8964862

Name: Statutory Registers Births 453/52

Reference: Copy obtained through the Scotlands People website

Title: Copy of birth certificate for Lennox James Houston

Description: This is a copy of the birth record. It was obtained in 2017.

Connected by: Bill72103

Additional: Lennox James Houston was born in St. Andrews, Fife, United Kingdom in 1897 to Eliza Pryde and Laurence Craigie Houston.

Source information

ID: 8964887

Name: Madras College Archive pages 1 & 48

Title: Biographies of other Madras Pupils who lost their life in WW1

Description: Photo of the commemorative plaque at the college and biographical details of former pupils

Connected by: Bill72103

URL: http://www.madrascollegearchive.org.uk/journals/publications/WW1.pdf
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Source information

ID: 8965825

Name: Publication date: 1 October 1917 Issue: 13148 Page: 2088

Title: Supplement to Edinburgh Gazette

Description: List of those awarded the Military Medal

Connected by: Bill72103

URL: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/13148/page/2088
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: The details match, and we are also aware from information in the Unit War diary and other documents that Len was awarded the Military Medal for his "gallant services" and "daring work" on 31st July.

Source information

ID: 9112558

Reference: wwisd

Title: Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 Transcription

Connected by: David1424

UPP: GBM/WWISD/0445618

Credit: © Naval and Military Press Ltd

Source information

ID: 9363159

Reference: gbm_mci

Title: Medal Index Cards Transcription

Connected by: Fife3190

UPP: GBM/MCI/1978546

Additional: main card

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 9390557

Name: WO 95/1701/4

Reference: Copy obtained from National Archives

Title: Copy of 8th Divisional Signals Company unit war diary Aug. 1917

Description: This is a copy of the unit war diary for the relevant period. It was obtained in 2007. It states under "killed": No. 121265 Pioneer Houston L.J. (25th Brigade). Under "Location" the diary states "Operations E. of Ypres"

Connected by: Bill72103

Additional: Len's death with the relevant details is recorded in the diary.

Source information

ID: 9391845

Title: Transcript of letter

Description: This letter was written by Sapper F. Smith to Len's father on 17th August 1917.

Connected by: Bill72103

Additional: This letter refers to the death of Len Houston on 16th August 1917 at Bellewaerde Ridge to the east of Ypres. We know that he was killed by shellfire but the description of his injuries must have been intended to spare his parents even greater pain. The letter also mentions the fact that his Military Medal was awarded for his actions on 31st July 1917.

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