My name is Chris Atkinson. I started my customer services apprenticeship at Manchester City Council in October 2012. Since then I have been working at Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives helping the public search our archive and local history collections. One way to do this is by indexing records so people can find their ancestors’ names more easily.
I’ve been working through some staff cards of The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Works at Horwich – better known as Horwich Loco Works. The building was started in 1885. By 1892 the locomotive factory was fully operational with an erecting shop accommodating 90 engines and 30 tenders. By 1901 the machine shop was extended and the works covered a total area of 116 acres of which 22 acres were covered by workshops. In 1922 the company amalgamated with the London & North West Railway; the following year saw a merger with the London Midland Scottish railway company. In 1948 the nationalisation of the railway system handed Horwich works to British Railways. The works finally closed in 1980.
The cards record the name of employees, their date of birth, their job title, industrial injuries, how old they were when they first started work and the reasons why they may have left. I recently came across an employee card which had a newspaper cutting stuck to the back of it – this is very unusual. The worker’s name was Fred Haughton.
Mr Haughton had been with the Railway service since joining as a 13 year old check boy in 1913. He stayed with the service until joining the Royal Navy in 1920. What’s particularly interesting about this man is that he served in the Second World War on board HMS Prince Of Wales.
Whilst on board he was given the position as Chief Ordnance Artificer, this position was one of the most dangerous jobs on board as he would have had to inspect, test, assemble and disassemble all types of weaponry on the board the ship.
He was part of crew which tackled the infamous Bismarck of the German Navy in May 1941. The battle dented and bruised the Prince of Wales but no lives were lost and the Bismarck was slowed down in her pursuit of the British Merchant Navy.
The newspaper cutting explains that when Mr Haughton received the Distinguished Service Medal for mastery, determination and skill in action during the battle, he told King George VI the dramatic story about the sinking of the Prince of Wales.
Fred Haughton was also part of the crew when the Prince of Wales was attacked by the Japanese Naval Air Force on 10th December 1941. She was attacked for over 13 hours and eventually was damaged too much and sunk. Mr Haughton was one of the few survivors to make it onto a life boat and survived this attack.
Using war medal records on Ancestry.co.uk I was able to find out that in 1944, 24 years after Mr Haughton joined the Royal Navy, he was again given another medal which was for Long Service and Good Conduct.
It is not known when Fred left the Navy but most personnel left the forces soon after the end of the Second World War. Using birth, marriage and death records online I found out that Fred Haughton was married in 1925 and he died in December 1978 in Bolton, where he grew up.
Fred Haughton is just one ordinary name among the thousands of loco workers at Horwich. His story, however, shows his involvement in two of the most famous battles of the Second World War. Using sources freely available at any Manchester City Council library we can bring Greater Manchester’s everyday archives to life.
I am the son of Fred Haughton who went to Buckingham Palace in 1942 to witness my father recieve his D.S.M. from H.M. King George v1.
My father joined the Royal Navy 28 September 1920 and was discharged 20 September 1945 having served exactly 25 years [ he had originally signed on for 21 years, this was extended due to the war]
In 1937 he was at Devenport and was transferred to H.M.S. Exeter, the ship being in America at the time. He travelled to America on R.M.S. Orduna and joined Exeter. He was aboard Exeter during the Battle of The River Plate. He was mentioned in dispatches [ London Gazette Issue 34893 page 4260.
1 May 1940 he joined Prince of Wales at Eaglet [ Liverpool ] working with Vickers Armstrong trying to correct the faults with the Amunition hoists on the 14 inch guns. Details of his time on the Prince of Wales as you have recorded.
Between 8 April 1942 and 30 November 1942 he was at Avalon3 this was a British naval base at Argentia Newfoundland making arrangements for the Americans to take over the base.
On 14 April 1943 he joined H.M.S.Rodney. On 31 August 1943 the ship bombarded defence batteries norh east of Reggio. On 7 to 9 September 1943 they were at Salerno. Rodney supported the D day landings at various beaches over several days including the bombardment of heavy batteries on Alderney on 12 August 1944. Rodney sailed on 16 September 1944 on Operation Rigmerole this was Russian convoy JW 60.
During 1945 my father took me, my brother Christopher and my mother to Scotland and we spent one day aboard Rodney lying at anchor at Rosyth.
Fred haughton had on more son named Kenneth in 1948 who was named after our cousin Kenneth Haughton who was lost on H.M.S. Mahratta 29 February 1944.
Hello.
My name is kieron, i dont know if we have had contact before, but my web site is about HMS Mahratta and the crew.
Many photo,s there and still looking for more.
Hello Charles, my name is Chris Atkinson I was the one who originally came across your fathers work record card whilst at Horwich Loco, and I also wrote the blog above. I was very surprised to see your comment on the blog and I’m very happy you have done.
Whilst researching your father, I really found myself getting rather lost in his story, as whilst indexing the record cards, it’s rare to come across a card with a newspaper clipping to it.
Your father must have told many fantastic stories about his time during the war and the different countries he visited also.
I am interested in knowing some details that I was unable to get hold of. Such as who did he marry in 1925 (considering if my date was right?)?
If you would like to email me c.atkinson1@manchester.gov.uk i’d love to know more about your father.
Thanks
Chris
Hi Chris
I am the Grandson of Fred and Nephew of Charles who replied. My father was Christopher, mention by Charles( or Fed as we call him).
My Grandmother was called Doris Leigh I believe, I’m sure Fred will correct me when he reads this. she was born in 1904 and was also from Bolton, she died in the mid 1980’s.
I was 9 when my Grandfather passed on, he was a very nice man.
Im glad I saw your article it made me smile with pride to read it.
Thanks
Lee
Hi Lee, Im glad you liked my blog. Its been an honour to be able to tell your grandfathers story. Im happy that it has blessed your family in some way and i hope it encourages other people to tell their story about their family members who served in WWI & WWII. You should be very proud of your grandfathers history, he is a genuine hero! This has encouraged me to find out more about my family history during the WW’s. Thanks again for your very nice comment. Chris 🙂
Wow, this was great to read.
I am Tracy, granddaughter of Fred and Doris and sister of Lee above.
Though I have never met a relative called Adam Haughton, I believe he has followed his Great Grandfather’s footsteps and is now in the navy. It will be wonderful to be able to pass this story on to him.