HAUGHTON, Thomas Henry Eric (1891-1916).JPG)
T H E Haughton (War Service).
Born at Melbourne on 31 January 1891, Thomas Henry Eric Haughton was the son of Thomas Palmer Haughton and Blanche Adelaide nee Hills, of Lakes Entrance.
He was educated at Geelong College from 1906 until 1908. At the time of his enlistment he was engaged in an agency business at Hamilton. He enlisted as a Private, but was quickly promoted to Sergeant Major, and afterwards to 2nd Lieutenant, before leaving Australia.
He embarked on
HMAT A69 Warilda on 8 February 1916, and after a short stay in Egypt, arrived in France with 23rd Battalion on 3 April. ‘Harry’ received his second star only a few weeks before he met his death at Pozieres Heights on 4 August 1916,
‘although the battalion only provided a flank guard to the main advance, two officers – Lieutenants Thomas Haughton and Cecil Mills were killed, and three others wounded.' The
Geelong Advertiser reported the notification of his death:
'A cable message was received on Friday last by Mr T P Haughton conveying the sad news that his only son, Lieut T H E Haughton, was killed in action in France on August 4th. Lieut. Harry Haughton was attached to the 23rd Battalion, 6th Infantry Brigade, and was an old Geelong College boy, a member of the Corio Bay Rowing Club,and ex-captain of the Geelong Swimming Club. Sources: Geelong Advertiser 28 August 1916 p3; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p51 (citing Ronald J Austin RFD, ED, 'Forward Undeterred: The History of the 23rd Battalion AIF'; Australian War Memorial; Photo Pegasus December 1916.)