CLAYTON, Alfred Eric
| Service Numbers: | 3129, 3129A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Enfield (NSW), Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 1 September 1918, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 3129, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 3129, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 1 Sep 1918: | Involvement Private, 3129A, 56th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3129A awm_unit: 56th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-09-01 |
His story
The youngest son of Cornelius Connell Clayton and Emily Sophia nee Pickrell, of Baker Street, Enfield. He worked as a tea packer before enlisting in August 1916. His father had died in 1913.
Eric was a committed Christian who would witness to his fellow soldiers at the front. In a letter home he spoke of having Bible readings in the trenches.
On one occasion when returning from filling their water bottles. his mate was struck down by a sniper. Eric stayed and dressed his wound and brought him back but was struck by a bullet which went through his steel helmet and carried steel splinters into his shoulder. After working for three days he reported wounded and it proved to be a serious injury. For his bravery on this occasion he was awarded the Military Medal.
Submitted 25 April 2026 by Susan Borel
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