Ivy Alice Cawood

Robert Houghton was born at Christchurch in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island on 3 July 1891. His parents were John Thomas Houghton (1856-1924) and Elizabeth Ann Houghton (nee Sutton) (1865-1924) who had married in New Zealand on 23 February 1882. Robert and Ivy Alice Grey were married at St Paul's Church in Christchurch on 3 April 1918 by the Rev. Patterson. Robert worked as a Fireman for the New Zealand Railways Department before enlisting for service during World War I with the New Zealand Infantry (Service No. WWI 78335). He died at sea on board the 'Tahiti' on 5 September 1918 during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic, and was buried at sea the same day. Robert is remembered on the Canterbury Provincial Memorial at Ruru Cemetery in Bromley, Christchurch. Listed alongside him are 32 other men who served during World War I, but like Robert have no known grave . Alice later remarried to Joe Cawood. She died in Christchurch on 13 July 1977 and was buried in Memorial Park Cemetery (bio by Debbie McCauley, 14 July 2022).