Charles Gardner reviews ‘Through Fire and Water: The Life and Faith of a Naval Surgeon in War and Peace’, by Mark Houghton (2025)

We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance (Psalm 66:12)

As we witness the fresh horrors of war even as it happens, the reality of it all struck me forcibly through the memoirs of a naval surgeon. The book comes in three sections:

• Part One: Surgeon, 1911-37
• Part Two: Sailor, 1938-1945
• Part Three: Senior and Son: 1945-2009

Sea of troubles

Lt Commander Paul Houghton spent much of World War II on the high seas as a medical officer tending to wounds and conducting operations. Indeed, he saved the lives of two famous admirals in the Second World War, Edward Syfret and Philip Vian.  According to naval historian Captain Peter Hore RN; “To save one altered the course of the war, but saving both puts Paul Houghton into a unique niche in medical a naval history.”
 
It wasn’t the dream job he had in mind after qualifying as a consultant, but he was fighting for King and Country, witnessing men blown to pieces in front of his eyes.
 
The book’s author, Paul’s son Mark - himself a doctor - paints an intimate portrait of a bold, yet shy man who struggled to put his faith into practice - clumsy at home, yet almost miraculous with a scalpel.
 
According to Mark, his dad suffered PTSD for years after the war. Yet the influence of his Saviour weaves seamlessly through the narrative, a powerful testament to the strength of Christian faith through the sea of troubles he encountered in many fierce battles.

Spiritual battle

This included the need to confront high-ranking officers over the lack of surgical equipment on board. But knowing his Lord was with him at every high or low moment made all the difference, and it’s an apt reminder that we Christians are in a constant battle with the enemy of our souls.

Paul was clumsy at home, yet almost miraculous with a scalpel.

As the Apostle Paul put it, our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities and powers in the heavenly realm (Ephesians 6:12).
 
As if it was not enough to witness young men being cut down all around him, he had to live with family members being killed or injured in action along with the knowledge of his dear mum seriously ill at home. As for his bedside manner, a colleague reported: “He always sat down with his patients and told them with kindness and compassion the truth about their medical prognosis. He had the rare ability to look at the facts and yet maintain hope.”

Missionary ventures

Following a successful post-war career in Worcester, Paul offered his retirement services for missionary work, which included spells in the Caribbean, the Transkei region of South Africa, and Nazareth in Israel. Mark, who followed his dad into the profession, joined him in Israel and recalls telling him: “Thousands of Jews are coming back from the north, west, south and east, just as the prophets foretold.” It was a comment inspired by the Russian-sounding name of a patient.

To save one altered the course of the war, but saving both puts Paul Houghton into a unique niche in medical a naval history

Mark added: “I watched as seven decades of Bible knowledge sprang into 3D from within Dad’s heart, making his face shine.” As it happened, he performed what turned out to be his final operation on a Jewish boy in the very region “where another Jewish lad had grown up to become the Master healer, whose ways he tried to imitate.”
 
After the 2008 financial crash, he foresaw worse to come from a morally rudderless society accompanied by “state bloodshed from too many unnecessary abortions”.
 
He died in August 2009, almost 98, with his neighbour Sally, whom he had saved as a baby, holding his hand – roles now reversed.
 
Through Fire and Water is published by Malcolm Down Publishing and is available from Amazon for £12 (or free with kindle unlimited).