Clarence Houston volunteered for the army in 1915, while a law clerk in Auckland. As a Driver in the Artillery, he was hospitalised for the usual things - rheumatism, tonsilitis, kick from a horse, etc. In fact, Clarence seems not to have had such a good time in the army. As well as the aforementioned, he suffered a broken tibia while in Egypt on his return from the Dardanelles. He spent some time in English hospitals recovering from that one.
In April of 1917 there occurs a black mark on his military record: "absent from 6.30 parade. conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he did fail to clean his buttons." He was given four days of "No. 2 Field Punishment" for that - here's a description of what that was like from "Conscientious Objectors During World War 1":
"Field punishment no.2: the soldier could be kept in irons to prevent his escape however was not allowed to be tied to a fixed object, carried out in the units if the punishment was sentenced to less than 14 days. They had to undergo hard labor, made to march in full order with packs and rifles twice daily, usually morning and afternoon. The soldier’s rifle equipment was inspected and if not satisfactory would be further punished. Soldiers under field punishment no.2 were not allowed to smoke or drink any rum; pay was also lost during this time. If the prisoner messed up they were sent straight to the bottom of the leave roster and also did at least an hour pack drill everyday. The prisoners were only allowed blankets and to sleep on the floor and were under guarded supervision in a room from between the hours of 6pm and 6am."
Clarence's luck ran out just before the end of the war - during the last action of his unit. He died of wounds described in the usual concise manner: "Died of wound recd in action at 45 Cas Clear St in the Field France" and further: "gsw legs."
PERSONAL ITEMS
Gunner Clarence L. Houston, the last surviving son of Mr. W. H. Houston, Hill Crescent, Oriental Bay, was 25 years of age when he died of wounds in France some days ago. His brother, Captain Neville Houston, was killed on July 1 1916. Gunner Clarence Houston had been previously wounded, but having recovered from his wounds last year returned to the front. He was educated at Otago High School and the Waitaki High School, and entered as a law student of Victoria College, and had made considerable progress towards the completion of his course. Before he enlisted he was in the office of Messrs Wilson and Meredith, solicitors, Wellington. Mr. and Mrs Houston have lost the whole of their family in the war. For many years Mr Houston was a well-known business man in Dunedin, but he retired some time ago and came to Wellington to live. -Dominion, 12/11/1918.
Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.
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