CLAXTON, Maurice James
| Service Number: | 1239 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 July 1915, Blackboy Hill, Western Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St Arnaud, Victoria, Australia, 21 March 1892 |
| Home Town: | Broomehill, Broomehill-Tambellup, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Teamster |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery Plot IV. Row D. Grave 11 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Broomehill District WW1Roll of Honour, Broomehill War Memorial, Coonooer Bridge War Memorial, Shire of Charlton Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Blackboy Hill, Western Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
Help us honour Maurice James Claxton's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Private M. J. Claxton, son of Mr. J. Claxton, of Coonooer Bridge, has made the great sacrifice in defence of the Empire. The Defence Department in a telegram to the Rev. A. E. Davey stated :—"It is officially reported that 1239 Pte. M. J. Claxton was killed in action on 20/7/16. Previously reported missing. Convey to Mr. Claxton sympathy of King and Queen and Commonwealth.—Colonel Hawker." The deceased and a brother enlisted in West Australia and left for Egypt in November, 1915. After service there they went straight to France. There they went into action together, and after their first engagement both were reported missing on the 20th July, 1916. It subsequently transpired that one brother was captured by the Germans, but no tidings of his brother and comrade in arms had come to hand until the receipt of the official message a few days ago conveyed the sad news that he was killed in action.
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of John Claxton of Conooer Bridge, St Arnaud, Victoria; brother of Privates Edward John Claxton and Theodore Claxton both of whom returned to Australia
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by VWM Australia
RE-INTERRED 2023
Private Claxton's remains were positively identified in 2023 and have been re-interred at the Pheasant Wood Cemetery on 20 July 2023. Previously listed at VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial.
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