JUST 100 years ago this week three more Redditch soldiers died fighting in the First World War.
Christian Cecil Bott was born in Feckenham in 1895, one of seven children born to William Bott and Phoebe Maria Winfield.
His father died in 1900 in Alcester and the family moved to Church Road, Astwood Bank, his mother working as a needle burnisher to support them all.
In search of betterment, the family then emigrated to Canada, Christian becoming a Canadian citizen and joining the 87th Canadian Regiment when war came.
This took him back to Europe, to the Somme battlefield where his unit found itself in a bloody battle at the Ancre Heights overlooking the German positions.
It was there that he died fighting on October 19 at the age of 22 and he is remembered on the war memorial at St Stephen’s Church.
Alfred Houghton was a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Worcestershires, a unit which, after a spell out of the line to rest and re-fill the ranks, found itself marching through torrential rain and mud to engage the enemy around Gueudecourt on the Somme front on October 19.
On the 21st the Germans bombarded on the British positions claiming over 50 casualties, and it is likely Alfred was among them. He died on October 22.
Born in 1877, he was the fourth of Isaac and Sarah Houghton’s five children. Isaac worked as a needle polisher and the family lived in Chapel Road, Astwood Bank.
By the time he was 14 years old Alfred was working as a hook burnisher and he joined the local regiment on the outbreak of war.
He is remembered on the St Luke’s war memorial and on the Thiepval Memorial.
Horace Portman also died on October 22, aged just 19. He was born in 1897 in Crabbs Cross, the son of George and Francis Elizabeth Portman.
His father, a bow thresher for a needle company, died aged 43 and his mother opened a butcher’s shop to support her ten children.
Horace joined the Worcestershires in 1915, serving with the 10th Battalion.
On October 22, 100 years ago, the unit marched all day from their billets to the front at Le Transloy ridge through a scene of devastation. At dusk they found themselves in position on the reverse side of the hill where they came under sustained bombardment.
Horace is remembered on the St Lukes Memorial.
With thanks to Remembering Redditch’s Fallen Heroes and the Diary of the Worcestershire Regiment.
4th Jun, 2026
