The AIF Project

John Charles CLAYTON

Regimental number850
Place of birthMelbourne, Victoria
SchoolState School, Victoria
Other trainingNil
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
Addressc/o Yarram Club, Yarram, Gippsland, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 2.75"
Weight143 lbs
Next of kinBrother, Horace R Clayton, c/o Yarram Club, Yarram, Gippsland, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed in the Senior Cadets, Geelong.
Enlistment date27 March 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name24th Battalion, D Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/41/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 10 May 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll60th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 19 July 1916
Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll)Name does not appear on Nominal Roll
Place of death or woundingFleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles)
Age at death21.4
Family/military connectionsNil
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 30 August 1915.

Disembarked Alexandria from Mudros, 10 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

Admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Ghezireh, 21 January 1916 (pneumonia: 'dangerously ill'); taken on 'dangerously ill' list, 22 January 1916; transferred to No 3 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 15 February 1916; to Convalescent Home, Ras el Tin, 12 March 1916; discharged to Australian Overseas Base, 5 April 1916.

Taken on strength, 60th Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 20 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported Missing, 19 July 1916.

Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 750208, 3329 Pte E. JUDD, B Company, 60th Bn, and 2896 Pte C.P.G. MAYHEW, B Company, 60th Bn, 28 February 1917: 'There is no doubt they [CLAYTON and 2835 G. COLLINS] were killed at Fleurbaix on 19th. July. [1965] Cpl. W. Ollis, L.[ewis] G.[un] S.[ection] stated this as a fact to me.'

Second statement, 4520 Pte A.R. HEANEY, 60th Bn, 14 November 1917: 'Casualty went over the parapet on the 19th July, 1916 at Fleurbaix. I passed his dead body in No Man's Land on my return to the trench. He was lying face upwards. I am positive about his identification. I knew him well. I was one of the 64 who came through unscathed on that memorable occasion.'

Note on file: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills 10-10-19.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, CLAYTON John Charles
Red Cross File No 750208

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.