China Medal 1842 ROYAL NAVY

China Medal 1842. ** C.H.Houghton. 3rd Engineer. HMS  VIXEN **

Old Silver Medal in GOOD CONDITION, on ribbon. Paperwork including SERVICE HISTORY confirms medal entitlement.

China Medal 1842 ** C H Houghton 3rd Enginr HMS Vixen ** With copy service record TNA ADM196/23/87 and other research here from online sources.

• Awarded the China 1842 Medal for services aboard HMS Vixen TNA ADM171/12 page 189 

• Awarded the Baltic Medal for services aboard HMS Dauntless TNA ADM171/20 page 113 "Medal delivered on board 18th March 1857".

• Awarded the Crimea Medal clasp Sebastopol (and Turkish Crimea Medal) for services aboard HMS Dauntless TNA ADM171/26 page 138. 

Charles Hugh Houghton was born in Brentford, Middlesex 15th March 1819 (1820 on his service record) and entered the Royal Navy as Third Class Engineer aboard the 1st Class Wooden Paddle Sloop HMS Vixen (1,379 tons) 28th September 1841 and participated in the First China War aboard this vessel.

Appointed to the Royal Yacht William and Mary 12th July 1846, he was promoted to Second Class Engineer aboard this vessel 22nd September 1846. Charles was subsequently appointed to HMS Penelope 22nd December 1846, HMS Blenheim 17th April 1849 and HMS Dauntless 17th August 1850 where he was promoted to First Class Engineer 10th June 1851.

Appointed to HMS Blenheim 20th May 1853, Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert 2nd July 1853 and back to HMS Dauntless as Acting Chief Engineer 27th June 1854 being confirmed in that rank aboard HMS Dauntless 29th September 1854. 

Appointed to HMS Blenheim 14th March 1857, HMS Hannibal 1st February 1858, HMS Asia 25th April 1859, HMS Dauntless 15th June 1859 and HMS Asia 7th December 1859. He was retired on pension of £340 per annum 7th January 1870. 

Charles married Elizabeth at Greenwich, London 24th May 1849. The couple were to have nine children, the 1871 census records that Charles is a retired Chief Engineer (Commander Rank) Royal Navy residing with his wife six sons and two daughters at 345 Commercial Road, Portsea, Portsmouth. 

The 1881 census records Charles is residing with his wife, three sons, one daughter and servant at 4 Elm Grove, Camberwell, Surrey where he died on 28th July 1883. He now rests in Southwark Cemetery, his widow died in 1904.