Name
William Thomas Louis Woodward Cloude
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Army Service Corps
Motor Transport
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
William Cloude was born in the autumn of 1887 at Borden, near Sittingbourne, Kent. He was one of eight children, born to William and Selina Cloude. The couple had four sons and four daughters, and in 1901 the family lived at Bank Cottages at Birling in Kent. William (senior) worked as a Brick Layer. By 1916 William (junior) lived at The Garage, Langley House at Abbots Langley, where he worked as a Motor Mechanic. His Service Record indicated that in 1908 he had married Eliza Napier Falconer, at Birling, Kent, and the couple had had two children – Albert, born on 12th April 1909 at Malling, Kent, and Lionel, born on 23rd March 1916 at Abbots Langley.
William attested on 1st June 1916 to the Army Service Corps, and was mobilised on 22nd June and posted to the 348 Motor Transport Company, where his Service Record showed that he was commended for being “a very good light car driver and efficient lorry driver”.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour listed William for the first time in July 1916, serving with the Motor Transport Section of the Army Service Corps (MTASC), and recorded him each month through to the end of the War serving with this unit.
On 8th March he was transferred from 348 Motor Transport at 2A Camp, Durrington, Larkhill, to the Motor Transport Depot at Bulford Camp, and from there moved to France on 17th March 1917. It is not known where he served in France, however the Absent Voter Record for Autumn 1918 indicated that he was serving with the MTASC and was attached to the 284th Royal Garrison Artillery. He was once again recorded in the Spring 1919 Absent Voter Record and his Service Record indicated that he was transferred home on 16th June 1919. He was discharged disabled due to having been diagnosed with a hernia, which was considered not attributable to War Service. During his service in France, he was considered reliable and intelligent, a good lorry driver, and suitable for employment as a driver in civilian life.
Two other members of the staff at Langley House returned from the War. Frederick Buck, the Chauffeur survived the War, however Edwin Bayliss, who was employed as a Butler, was discharged disabled in December 1917.
William Cloude survived the War.
Additional Information
Discharged Disabled
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
