Early Life :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

Falaba was a 5,000 ton British passenger-cargo ship under the command of Captain Davies and was carrying 95 crew and 147 passengers destined for Sierra Leone. It was sunk on 28 March 1915 by the German submarine U-28, which was commanded by Baron Forstner.

Falaba was beyond the mouth of the Bristol Channel off the southern Irish coast when U-28 surfaced and stopped the British ship. Forstner had allowed for evacuation before sinking the ship, but when Falaba started sending wireless messages and distress rockets for help, Forstner cut short the time to evacuate the ship. The Germans claimed that they allowed 23 minutes for evacuation; the British claimed that they were only given 7.

U-28 fired a single torpedo into Falaba, resulting in at least 100 deaths Both the Hull Daily Mail and Gloucester Echo of the 30th May, report 112 and 111 fatalities respectively. The Germans also claimed that Falaba's cargo contained rifle cartridges that exploded, hastening the sinking.

The American press denounced the sinking as a "massacre" and an act of piracy, but the US Wilson Administration took no action on the matter. At home, there were many newspaper articles. An eyewitness account had been reported in the Motherwell Times (2nd April 1915), Beverley and East Riding Recorder (3 April 1915) and the Manchester Evening News (8th July 1915) shows a judgement and conclusions by Lord Mersey.

The Verdict by the jury was returned: "...that the people died from exposure consequent upon the ship being struck by a torpedo from a German submarine."

Detail :

Probate shows date of death in March 1915. The SS Falaba was sunk by torpedo off Milford Haven on this date. There are links with John to Africa and to Milford Haven. Although it is not proved, it is possible he was involved in this incident, but no crew or passenger lists yet found.

Masonic :

Commemorated on a plaque at Wivenhoe Masonic Temple, together with W.G. Power and W.E. HORE: Brian Heasman: Look at Colne Lodge History and will find there is a mystery. The following is what has been found: Colne Lodge had a J A Houston, a Yacht Builder and our Founding Organist in 1893 until 1897. On 11 April 1911, a Mr John Albert Edward Wraith Houston, a 27 year old Marine Engineer was not permitted to join.

A minute of 14 September 1937 states that a Bro J A Houston son of a Founder of the Lodge [the organist above] was welcomed. According to the signature book he was a member of Lodge of Humility with Fortitude No 229 which is shown now as meeting at Mark Masons Hall. If this is the same man he would have been 53 at that time, so would not have lost his life in the Great War.

Further investigation shows that at some stage John Alex Houston (founder) had moved to Halstead as shown in the probate record - his wife Clara as the key to unlocking the information.

Probate: Houston John Alexander of Ferndell New-stret, Halstead, Essex, died 28 March 1915 at sea. Probate London, 28 April to Clara Ann Reeves Houston widow. Effects £254 16s. 11d.

It seems most likely that the J. Houston recorded on the plaque at Wivenhoe Temple is John Alexander Houston, who lost his life at sea in March 1915. The rest of this record is therefore based on John Alexander Houston.

John was a founder of Colne, joining at consecration on the 29th April 1893, but was initiated into Hope Lodge No. 433, Brightlingsea in 1892 recorded as a Boat Builder from Rowhedge. He was excluded from Hope in 1901, annotated "Gone Away." He wasnt any better with Colne Lodge showing 2 years of arrears (1901-1902) before being excluded in September of 1902. It is not surprising that he was excluded in the U.K., as he is next found joining Lagos Lodge, Nigeria on 23 June, 1902 before going on to become a founder member of St. George's Lodge No. 3065, Lagos in 1904.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley