No.266360, Lance Corporal, Horace CLAYDON, M.M.
Aged 26
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Horace Claydon was born in Dullingham on 19th May 1891, (Newmarket Q3-1891 3B:497), baptised in Dullingham on 4th October 1891, son of
Edward Charles and Eliza Mary CLAYDON (née BROWN). 1901 census...Aged 9,he was at Work House, Brinkley Road, Dullingham with his father Edward CLAYDON [37] bricklayer's labourer born Woodditton; his mother Eliza [36]; brothers Charles [14], Edward [6] and Arthur [1] and sisters Mary [5] and Ivy [3]. Except for his father, all were born in Dullingham. 1911 census...Aged 19, a gardener, he was lodging with George KNIGHT [20], gardener, at Lower Hare Park, Dullingham. His parents (father now a road minder); sister May and sister Ida [7] born Dullingham and brother Jack [5] born Dullingham were still at the Old Workhouse, Brinkley Road, Dullingham His mother had borne 12 children but sadly 4 had already died. His younger brother Edward died in Sutton Coldfield as a result of gassing in the BEF just 11 days later and is buried in Dullingham. see here |
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He enlisted in Hertford. More confusion since his medal index card has him initially in the Hertfordshire Regiment # 4486, then in the Bedfordshire Regiment #266360, whereas the CWGC have him in the Hertfordshire Regiment #266360. There was always much interchange between the two regiments, but in this case, fortuitously his Army records are in the "burnt documents" at the National Archives and show him enlisting in the Hertfordshire Regiment #4486 on 11th January 1915. He gave his age as 23 years 7 months, was 5 feet 4 inches (162.6cm) tall, chest 35.5" to 38" (88.9 to 96.5 cm) He served in England until 21st February 1916, then went to France (Southampton -Rouen), joining the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment in the field on 14th March 1916. He was wounded on duty on 15th July 1916. Appointed paid acting lance corporal on 1st August 1917, he was home on leave from 29th August 1917 to 7th September 1917, then on 2nd November 1917 he was admitted to #3 ? CCS where he died, according to his records His Military Medal was gazetted on 23rd February 1918. This even has his number in the Bedfordshires, but places him in the Hertfordshires, however the only place the Bedfordshire Regiment is mentioned is on his medal index card. Such is this confusion between Bedfordshire Regiment and Hertfordshire Regiment it has so far proved impossible to say where Horace was wounded. In fact the 1st Herts lost no men that day and only the 6th Bedfordshires appear to have been in action. His medal provides no clues since few Military medals carried a citation. In 1919 his father recorded the family as parents at Workhouse Cottage, Brinkley Road, Dullingham, brother Charles [31] at 12 St Leonards Road, Bo?? and John (Jack) [13] still at home. Sisters Mary [23], Ivy [22] and Ida [15] were still at home but sister Alice was now Mrs CRICK [34] living in Carlton. |
photo: Rodney Gibson
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