PRIVATE GEORGE THOMAS CLAYTON
Died 8th October 1915
No. 10407 of the Bedfordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Born: Aspley Guise, (baptised 7th December 1894)
Resided: Station Grove, Woburn Sands
Enlisted: End of May, 1914 at Leighton Buzzard
Georges’ father, Thomas, was a labourer. George was drafted to France in October / November 1914, landing at Zeebruger, and arriving with the Battalion on 15th November in one of the drafts of replacements for the battalions losses during the First Battle of Ypres. He fought at Ypres, La Bassee, Neuve Chapelle and Festubert. The Battle of Loos was fought from September to 8th October 1915. George was wounded in action on October 4th, 1915, and had a leg amputated in hospital at Rouen.
He died from tetanus four days later, aged 20. According to the regimental history, the 2nd Battalion were undertaking normal trench duties in the area of La Basse Canal at that time. He is buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France. Listed on the Woburn Sands Memorial. His army service papers have not survived.
His brother, F. Clayton, also of Station Grove, volunteered to the Duke of Bedfords Regiment in November 1915, to avenge the death of his brother. He was sent overseas the next year. He fought at the Somme, Arras, Messines and Ypres. Although he was wounded twice, in April and August 1918, he safely returned to England in February 1919.
Some details kindly provided by Steve Fuller, “The Bedfordshire Regiment in the Great War”, at www.bedfordregiment.org.uk
Page last updated Jan. 2019.