Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Joseph and Selina Clayton of Dover, Tasmania; broter of William Alfred Clayton who was kiled in action at Pozieres on 12 April 1917

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal. Victory Medal

Brothers who died in the Great War by Frank Mahieu

Private Edward Charles CLAYTON and his brother Private William Alfred CLAYTON were both killed on 12 April 1917. Edward was aged 29 and William aged 42 at the time they died. They both served with the 52nd Battalion AIF. The 52nd Battalion was part of 13th Brigade with the 4th Australian Division. They were buried at Noreuil Australian Cemetery next to each other. They were the sons Joseph and Selina Clayton, of Dover, Tasmania, Australia.

In early 1917 when the Germans withdrew to the Hindenburg Line, the 52nd Battalion was involved in the pursuit of the Germans near Bullecourt. In this action on 12 April both brothers were killed. Young Edward lost his life in the vicious fighting with the Germans and William was severely wounded later that day by the bullets of a German machine gun. He so died of wounds on the same day. Ever since they rest together in Noreuil Australian Cemetery. LEST WE FORGET.

WILLIAM ALFRED CLAYTON was born on 6 April 1874 at Dover, Tasmania, Australia. He was a labourer and, aged 41 years and 8 months, he enlisted at, Claremont, Tasmania on 8 January 1916. Prior he had served 14 months in South Africa with the Bethune's Mounted Infantry. He was 5 foot 6 inch. tall (167.6cm) fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.

With 16th Reinforcements William disembarked from Melbourne on RMS Orontes on 29 March 1916 and embarked at Alexandria on 7 June 1916 arriving at Marseille on 14 June 1916. William was re-allotted from the 3rd Training Battalion to 1st Training Battalion as reinforcements for 52nd Battalion on 20 May 1916.

In France he proceeded to join 52nd. battalion on 26 July 1916, and taken on strength there the next day. On 7 Sept. he was caught in active service being drunk on line of march for which he received 21 days Field Punishment nr. 2. The next entry in his active service form says: killed in action 12 April 1917.

EDWARD CHARLES CLAYTON was born on 9 January 1887 at Dover, Tasmania. He was a fisherman and enlisted, aged 27 and 5 months, with the AIF 3 August 1915 at Claremont, Tasmania. He was 5 foot 5 ½ inch tall (166.3cm) and had a medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. With 11th Battalion 12th Reinforcements he disembarked at Melbourne on A71 Ascanius(Nestor*) on 10 November 1915 proceeding to Egypt for training. From 3rd Training battalion he was allotted to and joined 52nd Battalion at Zeitoun (Tel el Kebir camp, Egypt) on 3 March 1916.

He embarked at Alexandria on the troopship Ivernia on 5 June 1916, arriving at Marseille on the 14th of June. He was wounded in action 3 Sept. 1916 and transferred on the 4th to a Casualty Clearing Station at Boulogne where he was treated for a severe gunshot wound, graze wound, to the head.

Subsequently he was transferred to the UK was he was received further treatment in hospitals. On 31 Oct. 1916 he joined the 13rd Training battalion in England and on 28 Nov. He sailed to France per Princess Henrietta for a stay at Etaples (the famous hospitals site and training camp). He left and proceeded to his unit, the 52nd Battalion, on Dec. 13th and joined them in the field again on Dec. 14th 1916.

The next entry in the record is the fatal one, Killed in Action on 12 April 1917. First Battle of Bullecourt: To support the offensive in the north, the British 5th Army was ordered to attack the Hindenburg line south of Arras at Bullecourt, a heavily fortified village that had been incorporated into the German defenses.

The 5th Army planned the attack using the 62nd British Division from V Corps, and the 4th Australian Division from 1 Anzac Corps. The 4th and 12th Brigades of the 4th Division were to carry out the assault east of Bullecourt supported by 12 British tanks which would take the place of an artillery barrage in breaking down the German wire. The attack took place on 11 April 1917 and was led by the tanks, all of which were soon burning wrecks. The Australians, however, seized part of the German first and second line of trenches, achieving what many believed was the impossible to do without a protective artillery barrage.

The Australians were fighting without support and were cut off from reinforcements. Allied artillery was prevented from firing to disrupt German counter-attacks due to a mistaken belief that the Australians had reached deep into the Germans’ rear. By midday, almost eight hours after the attack began, the Australians were forced to withdraw. It was in this action that Private Edward Charles CLAYTON and his brother Private William Alfred CLAYTON, 52nd Battalion paid the supreme sacrifice for their country.

From Sue Guinan, Tasmania in the Great War - 1914-1918

I found this post re their deaths very interesting compared to the letter received by their parents - Captain J.Clayton of Dover has received the following letter from Rev. D. H. Blackwood re the death of his two sons, Privates William and Edward Clayton :

"Dear Mr.Clayton My heart just goes out to you in deepest sympathy in the sad loss of your two noble sons in our recent turn in the line. They had done splendid work all the time, but particularly the day before they were taken That was a day of tremendous fighting. Towards evening a great many of our wounded were still lying out in No Man's Land some right away bythe enemy's wire. Your two sons, with some others, volunteered to go outin open daylight to bring them in. They worked splendidly and by dark allthe wounded had been got in. As a reward, those volunteerstretcher-bearers were sent back out of the line to supports, to have a good sleep. Strange it seems that there they should have been both caught by one shell, with three others. It was quite close to where I was at the time. We buried them with full rights of the church under fire. The next day nice crosses were erected over their graves. I believe they were to be recommended for their brave work on this occasion. It does seem strange and hard that both may have been taken together, for they always tried to keep separate in action, going in different patrols."