Family of honoured U.S. war veteran left out of ceremony
FAMILY of an honoured American war veteran have spoken out after being left out of a ceremony honouring the former soldier.
Graham and Jack Houston, great-grandsons of Medal of Honour recipient Archibald Houston, had long hoped to be able to provide a gravestone for their fallen relative.
But last week, in a ceremony organised by ex-servicemen and attended by members of the US Navy, a gravestone to the decorated veteran was dedicated.
Archibald Houston, also known as Francis Kelly, was given the Medal of Honour for his actions during the Spanish-American war in 1898.
Having originally been born in Glasgow, the crewman fled Scotland for the states, then returning after leaving the forces.
Until recently he had been buried without recognition in Sandymount Cemetery in the east end.
Now Graham, 76, and his younger brother have expressed their disgust at being omitted from the ceremony last month.
He said: “It really sticks in the back of your throat, not getting invited along.
“We have no idea who the family member they got was. We had never heard of him until he was in the paper.
“We wanted to get a headstone put in ourselves. There are other people buried in the plot, family members.
“I was annoyed. The organisers knew we were family. It should have been me and my brother.”
Graham told of how, according to members of their family, Archibald had fled to America after shooting a coal man in the foot for refusing to sell some to relatives. It was there he assumed the identity Francis Kelly before returning to Glasgow after completing his service.
The brothers, who are originally from Dennistoun but both now live in North Lanarkshire, are also still in possession of the flag which Archibald was buried under in 1938.
The heirloom was passed to them from their father, who had been in possession of the item since the funeral of the medal of honour recipient.
Jack and Graham had planned to sell the flag to help fund a headstone, which would replace the number and a stone placed there by the family.
However, after the grave was discovered by veterans last year, this was replaced by a modest cross while a permanent headstone could be sourced by members of the Airborne Forces Association Scotland. Despite this work, Jack and Graham were unaware of any work to commemorate their great-grandfather.
The pair have said they are yet to visit the new headstone, but will soon head to the grave near Shettleston to see what they missed.
Jack, 72, now runs Robert Dick Bespoke Tailor in Dennistoun and said they had always been aware they were related to Archibald.
He added: “We had been trying to raise money for a long time and came pretty close to putting it up for auction.
“We didn’t know anything about the ceremony, it would have been nice to be there. We are both very annoyed.
“The flag has been passed down the generations to Graham and that would have been a good thing to have at the dedication.
“Unfortunately, it’s done and dusted now.”