Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Claydon, a wagoner, born 1858 in Barrowby, Lincolnshire and his wife Hannah Claydon (nee Auckland, married in the 2nd quarter of 1886 in the Sleaford, Lincolnshire district), born 1858 in Stow, Lincolnshire, and who was the daughter of John and Judith Auckland. George was born in the 4th quarter of 1890 in Ruskington Fen, Lincolnshire, in April 1891 he was residing as a lodger at High Street, Somerby, Leicestershire, together with his mother, his father was also residing as a lodger at another house in High Street, Somerby, Leicestershire together with George’s twin brother’s Charles and John William, born 2nd October 1887 in North Kyme, Lincolnshire. In March 1901 George was residing in the family home at 28, Garden Street, Thurmaston, Leicestershire, together with his father, a general labourer and his brother Charles, a pottery labourer. In April 1911 George was absent from the family home at 28, Garden Street, Thurmaston, residing there was his father, an urban district council road labourer and his brother Charles, a railway labourer, George’s mother was an in-patient at Carlton Hayes Hospital, Narborough, Leicestershire, George was serving as a Private with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort Saint George, Madras, India. George also had a sister, Frances Mary Claydon, born 3rd February 1892 in Thrussington, Leicestershire.
George attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 19th January 1907 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Ruskington Fen, Lincolnshire, his age as 18 years and 4 months and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 5¾ inches in height, weighed 111 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31 and 35 inches. His complexion was described as pale, his hair colour was brown and he had brown eyes. It was noted that he had a scar on the outer aspect of his left leg 3 inches below the knee. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army on the 19th January 1907 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8086 on the 19/1/07. Commenced preliminary training on the 19/1/07. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment stationed at Shorncliffe on the 28/4/07 - 4/3/09. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and embarked for India aboard H.T. Rohilla on the 4/3/09 – 25/3/09. Posted to Belgaum, India on the 26/3/09 – 5/3/11. Posted to Bellary, India on the 6/3/11 – 3/2/13. Admitted to hospital in Bellary suffering from Malaria on the 7/7/11 – 7/8/11. Posted to Bareilly, India on the 11/2/13 – 14/3/13. Posted to Ranikhet, India on the 19/3/13 – 20/10/13. Posted to Bareilly, India on the 24/10/13 – 19/3/14. Posted to Ranikhet, India on the 22/3/14. Extended for a further period of 2 years with the Colours on the 5/8/14. Appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on the 28/8/14. Appointed acting paid Lance Corporal, vice Grundy, in the field on the 5/11/14. Appointed (paid) Lance Corporal, vice Hayto, in the field on the 24/11/14. Admitted to the 19th Brigade Field Ambulance suffering from contusion, in the field on the 13/2/15. Transferred to No.6 Casualty Clearing Station, in the field on the 13/2/15. Discharged from Convalescent Camp, Le Havre to duty on the 9/3/15. Rejoined 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment for duty on the 14/3/15. Promoted Corporal, in the field on the 28/4/15. Killed in action, place not stated, in the field, on the 15/5/15. Total service 8 years 113 days. George was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory medals. The following information was provided by George’s father George on the 11th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by Benjamin Lane, J.P., Butcher and Farmer, 269, Main Street, Thurmaston on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, Geo. Claydon of 28, Garden Street, Thurmaston. Mother of soldier, Ann Claydon. Full blood brother of soldier, Charles Claydon, age 35. Full blood sister of soldier, Frances Claydon, age 23. George’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 15 May-15 - Battalion rested during the day in LANSDOWNE POST. Moved off at 8.00pm. Battalion took over front line from which the assault was to be made and by 9.30pm Companies were in position. Telephonic communication established with left and right and communication by officers ascertained between men on left and 2nd Div on my right. Eleven bridges were placed over the stream which runs parallel to position and about 20 to 30 yards in front of it, there with the existing four bridges made a total of 15 on the Battalion front. It was not possible to place more bridges in position as the stream had been widened at many points by big shell holes, and the trunks and branches of fallen trees also blocked any other places where bridges might have been put. This getting of the bridges into position was an operation of great difficulty on account of the constant flares and bursts of fire from the enemy’s parapet. It was skilfully and quietly done with only two or three casualties. At 10.45pm two platoons were crossed over to the far side of the stream. Four more platoons were formed up ready, in the trenches to go forward and support the leading platoons. The remaining two Companies were formed up lying down behind the parados in close column of platoons ready to advance. Thus the whole Battalion was got into its final position in order of attack and as close up as possible. This final formation was complete by 11.20pm and thanks to the able leading of Company Commanders the movement was carried out in perfect order, and with no noise. At 11.30pm the leading platoons went forward to the assault closely supported by the second line. The lines in rear went forward to take up the positions vacated by the leading line. At the same time, or if anything some seconds before 11.30pm the enemy opened a very heavy fire with rifles and machine guns. A few minutes afterwards trench mortars and shrapnel searched the stream and the ground on both sides of it. The enemy threw from their parapet some kind of fire grenade which burst into fire on impact with the ground, and these with continuous flames of all colours, literally turned night into day. The leading men pushed on but only a few were able to reach near the enemy’s parapet. Each succeeding line came under a very heavy fire, the bridges got so blocked and the obstacles caused by fallen trees and shell holes so impeded movement that effective support could not be given. Thus the impetus of the assault was broken before it really got a proper start. The enemy’s parapet was fully manned and the accuracy and intensity may be understood from the fact that 8 officers, Platoon Commanders were killed or wounded. About 12 midnight reports were received from the front that our attack could not reach the German line, orders were then given to withdraw to our own trenches.
On Friday June 18th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” –MORE CASUALTIES AMONG YEOMANRY. – The following list of casualties in the Leicestershire Yeomanry and Leicestershire Regiment reported from the base under date 30th May, was issued from the War Office on Tuesday:-
KILLED.
LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY.
Clifford, 1938, Private P., Hansen, 2278, Private H. R., Moir, 1732, Lance Corporal L. J., Moore, 1678, Private D., Parker, 1478, Lance Sergeant J., Ward, 2327, Private B.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
1st Battalion.
Killinger, 5616, Private J.
2nd Battalion.
Abrahams, 5560, Private J. E., Alderman, 8551, Private A., Bates, 8027, Private T., Bloxam, 12571, Private W., Brown, 9952, Private E., Claydon, 8086, Corporal G., Dowling, 10285, Private A., Fletcher, 7598, Sergeant W., Fray, 9784, Private E., Houston, 9031, Private J., Johnson, 9545, Private A. E., Laxton, 8900, Lance Corporal W., Mawby, 8305, Drummer W., Mercer, 11579, Private U. J., Reveille, 9491, Private R., Richardson, 9087, Private H., Sanders, 9224, Lance Corporal T., Slater, 8331, Private H., Smith, 9199, Lance Corporal H., Toms, 9970, Private A., Weston, 10024, Sergeant T.
DIED OF WOUNDS.
LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT.
2nd Battalion.
Cooper, 12306, Private F., Hughes, 8017, Private J., Mills, 8318, Private G. A., Moore, 8835, Private A., Murphy, 5859, Lance Corporal E., Upton, 9671, Private P. W.
On Friday June 18th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Corporal G. CLAYDON, 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on the 15th May. He had been 8½ years in the regiment, and was in India on the outbreak of the war. He was a native of Leicestershire.