Name
William Claydon
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/09/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4532
Cambridgeshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MESNIL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
II. C. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
William was born around 1893 in Haverhill, Suffolk and his parents were Warren (b Sturmer, Essex) and Alma Claydon (b Haverhill, Suffolk).
In 1901 the family were living at 46 Pudding Road, Haverhill, Suffolk. Present were both parents: Warren (48) and Alma Radford Claydon. Warren was working as a stickweaver Their children were: Harry (24), Kate (18), Alice (14), George (12), May (10), William (8), Stanley (4) and Bert (1).
By 1911 the family were living at 38 High Street, Haverhill, Suffolk. Present were both parents, Warren now working as a jobbing gardener. Of the children,
The census recorded they had been married for 34 years with 11 children of whom 3 had died. All the children listed above Harry, Alice, George and May are absent the others are present, along with a grandson Bert Claydon (11). William was working as a fishmonger's journeyman.
Officially William was recorded as enlisted in Cambridge.
No connection to Hitchin or Hertfordshire has yet been established.
Wartime Service
He was allocated the Regimental Number 4532. He died of wounds in France.
The Regiment went to the front line from Mailly-Maillet Wood on the Somme from the 12th September to the 3rd October 1916. They were relieved by the Hertfordshire Regiment.
Died of wounds at an Advanced Dressing Station in Mensil, France.
He is buried in Plot 2 Row C Grave 7 in the Mesnil Communal Cemetery Extension in France.
Additional Information
No connection to Hitchin or Hertfordshire has yet been established.
After his death £4 3s 11d was authorised to go to his mother on 29 March 1917 and later a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to her on 29 October 1919.
His pension cards record two soldiers 4532 William Claydon and 326290 Joseph Stanley Claydon – brothers (DOW 22/9/1916 and KIA 15/11/1917 respectively) , and Alma Radford Claydon and their mother as their dependant, living at 17 Hamlet Road, Haverhill, Suffolk and later at Endway, Steeple Bumpstead, Essex. The details of any pension awarded were not given.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
