Name
Albert (Edward( Clayton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/09/1914
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
20517
Royal Engineers
1st Signal Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VAILLY BRITISH CEMETERY
I. AA. 24.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Albert was born around 1890 in Rotherham, Yorkshire. Unfortunately so far not enough information has been found to identify his parents or his location in the various censuses. However, we believe that Albert was employed in the telegraph wire section of the General Post Office and had moved from Aldershot to Hitchin in June 1914.
He was the husband of Florence E. Clayton of 3, Anderson's Row, Florence Street, Hitchin and they had children aged two and seven. Another address given for him was 45, Bancroft, Hitchin.
He married to Florence Edith Johnson (b 7/1/1887) who already had a child Claude Keenan Johnson (b 2/6/1907), meaning that Johnson may not have been her maiden name*1. They then had two children, Albert Edward (29/9/1912) and Evelyn Alberta (b 17/11/1914). So, it seems likely, that they married sometime in 1911 before the census of that year. Claude was later recorded as a step-child (of Albert). Albert and Florence
Officially recorded as born Rotherham, Yorks., and enlisted in Doncaster, Yorks.
*1 Florence Edith Clayton, a widow, married William Sydney Gascoine, of 33 Barlow Road, Fulham at Christ Church, Fulham on 13 November 1920. Her father Joseph Johnson was present. This maybe Albert’s widow and, if so, her maiden name was Johnson.
Wartime Service
Albert landed in France 17 August 1914. That date means that he was either a serving soldier or in the Army Reserve.
He was the first fatal casualty on land from Hitchin. At first he held Regimental Number 9147 in the Yorks and Lancaster Regiment, but was later transferred to the Royal Engineers with the Service Number 20517. He served with No. 1 Signals Company and was killed in action in France.
He is buried in Plot 1, Row AA, Grave 24 in the Vailly British Cemetery in France. He was moved there during a concentration of burials His Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone shows him with the rank of Sapper. According to the CWGC concentration records he died on the 25th not the 27th he details were taken from the cross erected on his grave
Additional Information
His pension cards record Florence Edith Clayton as his widow as his next of kin, living at 45a Bancroft Street, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 18 6d a week from 10 May 1915. An additional note reads: “2s a week temporary continuation of separation allowance in respect of step-child (Claude) not to exceed 3 months.”
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
