No.326290, Private, Joseph Stanley CLAYDON
Aged 19
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Joseph Stanley CLAYDON was born in Haverhill on 29th March 1897 (Risbridge Q2-1897 4A:737), son of Warren Albert and Alma CLAYDON (née PAGE).
His parents married in 1876. By 1881 they had three children, Harry, Mary Ann and Albert. These were followed by Kate, Alice, George and May by 1891.
1901 census...Aged 4, Stanley was at 46 Duddery Road, Haverhill with his father Warren CLAYDON [48] silk weaver born Sturmer; his mother Alma [45]; brothers Harry [24] bricklayer's labourer, George [12], William [8] and Bert [1]; sisters Alice [14] and May [10]. All except his father were born in Haverhill. 1911 census...Aged 14, Stanley was at 38 High Street, Haverhill with his parents (father now a jobbing gardener); sister Kate [28] a sacking machinist; brothers William a fish monger's journeyman and nephew Bert (who seemingly was his brother in 1901 and whose parentage is not recorded). His mother had borne 11 children but lost 3 of them In 1917, when Bert enlisted, the family address was 17 Hamlet Road, Haverhill, but CWGC have his mother at Endway, Steeple Bumpstead. Bert served from August 1917 to March 1920, first in the 5th Suffolks and then the Labour Corps There are three Haverhill William Claydon that died in the war, but only two on the memorial. Joseph's brother William had gone to Canada, but returned and enlisted in the Cambridgeshire Regiment and died of his wounds in France in 1916. see here |
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He enlisted in Cambridge. His Military Medal was gazetted in 14th January 1918.
The Regimental history (courtesy Steve B on 1914-1918.invisionzone.com) has :- "The whole of November was spent in holding the flooded line of shell holes between Tor Top and Polderhoek on either side of the Menin Road, with brief intervals in support at Ridge Wood. But although there was no fighting, the shelling never ceased, and during the month a total of 20 were killed and 135 wounded. Those who remember the appalling conditions in that sector will realise what that meant to the stretcher-bearers, who had to pick their way round flooded shell holes back to the dressing station. Sometimes it took three hours to get a bad stretcher-case down, and the stretcher-bearers were almost invariably wet to the waist before they completed the journey." The Brigade war diary tells us:- The 118th Infantry Brigade HQ was at 28.J.19.a.9.9. which is on the eastern edge of Sanctuary Wood to the south east of Hooge. The Cambridgeshire took over the right of the Polderhoek sector early the previous afternoon. at 5:30 am the enemy put down a barrage of artillery and trench mortars on the front line and an infantry action took place on the left.On the right the Cambridgeshires had an encounter with the enemy, capturing two. They were from the 31st R.I.R.. It appears our artillery was slow in answering the SOS The battalion war diary (thanks to clk on 1914-1918.invisionzone.com) has :- " 15th November 1917 - At 5.30 am the enemy put down a barrage of artillery, trench mortars and rifle grenades on the front line and about the same time the SOS was sent up on our left. At 5.40 am the barrage lifted on to Support Coy and H.Q pill boxes. The S.O.S. was repeated from Bn. H.Q., and a message sent to Bde H.Q via battalion on our right "SOS MENIN ROAD." which appeared to be the centre of activity. Parties of the enemy about two companies in all approached our lines on the MENIN ROAD about this time and were fired on. Two prisoners were taken, wounded, the remainder retired to their trenches. At 6.30 am the situation being quieter "Stop SOS" was sent to Bde H.Q. via Right Battalion. Signal communication was bad, the line to Bde H.Q. has been "dis" (disconnected) all night. Visual signalling also failed owing to the lamp being disturbed. Our casualties are roughly between 30 & 40 killed or wounded. One prisoner sent to Bde H.Q. and the other evacuated to the Field Ambulance. They are both Prussians belonging to the 31st R.I.R.". His entry in Du Ruvigny's Roll of Honour reads :- CLAYDON, JOSEPH STANLEY, M.M., L-Corpl., No. 326290, 1st Battn. )Lewis Gun Section) The Cambridgeshire Regt.(T.F.), s of W.Claydon, of 17 Hamlet Road, Haverhill,co.Suffolk; b.Haverhill, co. Suffolk.29 March, 1897; educ.Board School there; joined the 1st Battn. The Cambridgeshire Regt 2 April ,1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action 15 Nov.1917. His Commanding Officer wrote: "He was a good soldier, and would have no doubt very shortly have risen in the ranks but for this misfortune. Greatly liked and respected by both officers and men of his company, his loss is most deeply felt and mourned. He died a soldier's death, bravely sticking to the post of duty regardless of danger."He was awarded the Military Medal for gallant and distinguished service in the field; unm" The South West Suffolk Echo reported on 8th December 1917:- "Mr. and Mrs. W.Claydon of 17 Hamlet Road, Haverhill have received information that their son,Lance Corpl. J.S.Claydon of the 1st Cambridgeshire Regt.(lewis Gun Section) was killed by a shell in France on November 15th. The following letter has been received from his Captain:- "it is with deepest regret that I write to inform you of the death in action of your son, No.326290 Lance Corpl.J.S.Claydon.He was in charge of the Lewis Gun team in the front line when the enemy opened a heavy bombardment on our trenches. A shell fell right in the post held by your son and his men, killing many, of whom your son was unfortunately one. We buried him and a wooden cross bearing his name, umber and regiment has been erected above his grave. he was a good soldier and would have no doubt risen in the ranks but for this misfortune. Greatly like and respected by both officers and men of his Company, his loss is most deeply felt and mourned. He died a soldierly death, bravely sticking to the post of duty regardless of danger. May I, on behalf of all who knew him, "offer my deepest sympathy and trust you maybe given strength to bear up under your great loss" |
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