Parkwood area
Private. 9th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. Service number 3/10593.
Early life:
John was born on 21st July 1896 with his birth being registered in Keighley in the third quarter of the year. His parents were Emmott Clayton and Edith Mary Clayton née Clark, who had been married at St. Mary’s Church in the Eastwood area of Keighley on 13th April 1895.
John was baptised at St. Mary’s Church, along with his elder sister Elie May Clayton on 3rd April 1900. They were living at 32, High Spring Road, Keighley.
By 1901 John was four when the family had moved to 4, Tyne Street in the Parkwood area and their father Emmott was employed as a moulder, making worsted machinery. Their move was presumably made to be living closer to work for Emmott and possibly school for the children who were likely to be attending Parkwood Primary School.
In the 1911 census John was aged fourteen and the family were living at 2, Brow Street, just along the road from Tyne Street. Emmott was still employed as a moulder on Gas and oli machine and John was now working as a taker-off for a worsted spinning company.
War service:
There are no Army service records for John but we have calculated an approximate enlistment date of August or September 1914 from his Soldier’s Effects record which paid out a war gratuity calculated on his length of service before he died. He is also listed as an early volunteer in ‘Keighley’s Gallant Sons’ as Clayton, John (single) of 6, Brow Street.
His medal records state he disembarked in France on 15th July 1915 and this would match with the arrival of the 9th Battalion West Riding Regiment. They had left Winchester and arrived at Folkestone at 11:10 pm. They embarked and after the sailing across the channell, arrived at Boulogne for 1:20 am on 15th July. They travelled via Calais to St Omer and Wizernes and then to billets at Esquerdes. Billeted at Vlammertinghe by the end of July.
John later took part in the Battle of the Somme and survived the first few weeks, but was killed in action on 4th August. He has no known final resting place and is commemorated on the Thiepval memorial in the Somme region, France.
War diary for 9th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regiment. August 1916:
August 3. 4 pm
Arrangements made with them to make a forward dump, place upon it all Lewis gun drums and tools we could raise. Also to carry water up for them to provide guides at PICCADILLY.
6.50 pm
Reported the attack timed for 12.40 am tomorrow to Batt on our right. RE officer came up with orders to open up wells and dugouts. Shelling very heavy & place unrecognisable, any map reference in the village useless as no streets can be traced at all. Fires still smouldering.
August 4. 5.20 am.
Reported that attack had failed to reach objective, and that a large number of MANCHESTER REGT are in our front line. They cannot moved out by light. They did not move along PICCADILLY as arranged but were caught in a barrage, presumably to make up lost time across the open. Prisoner captured sent down.
10.22 am.
Situation report. Vickers Gun in S11.d.5.6 (forward of main position) one S11.d.5.4 on corner of DUKE ST & NORTH ST. One S17.b.8.8 Stokes mortars in PICCADILLY & moved up as required. One Platoon in DUKE ST. between PICCADILLY & NORTH ST. Four Platoons between NORTH STREET and S11.d.7.6 in series of posts with four Lewis guns. Advance Post in S11.d.2.4. Escort of Bombers & riflemen in open in front of forward VICKERS gun at S11.d.5.6. Battalion Bombers in PICCADILLY with M. G. Corps Headquarters. Two platoons in between in support along S11.d.7.3. Four Platoons in line from S17.d.9.10 one Platoon in support astride north st – s17.b.3.5 to S17.b.3.7. Reserve Coy in trench running round CHURCH as before carry food, water & stores. Water supply now working well as a water cart is kept filled at the QUARRY. Morale quite fair, confident can hold our line but men exhausted.
10.30 am.
Our position being well into the 13th Corps area we requested that the onus of keeping up touch should be upon the 1st BERKS who now hold DELVILLE WOOD. Our Patrols wanted for other work as casualties rather heavy.
10.35 am.
Reported that enemy post at S11.d.3.7. held by MG & about 20 men & probably his line is held strongly by night, & snipers & MGs by days. Shelling rather easier. Instructions received that all men of 12th MAN REGT to return to their original positions, & for us to clear all their wounded. Arrangements m,ade to carry this out. 12th MAN REGT relieved by 10th LANCS FUSULIERS.
Stokes mortar reports range too long for him to reach Post at S11.d.3.7.
6.20 pm. Patrol warned to go out to try & get CAPT BENTON of 12th MANCHESTER REGT who is lying wounded in a shell hole – position not known. 9th NOR. FUS also sending a patrol out with same object.
9.15 pm.
Reported again that enemy holds posts C, D & E & that his line appears to be like ours a series of Posts in shell holes. Our snipers get quite a number who try to dodge from Post to Post.
Enemy reported moving up in single file from direction of FLERS.
9.25 pm.
Arrangements of Patrols for collecting wounded of 12th MAN REG completed. All found to be placed in PICCADILLY dug outs & arrangements completed for removal to Quarry.
10.50 pm. All 12th MAN REGT clear of our trenches.
Another prisoner taken (wounded). Situation much quieter.
Keighley News Saturday August 11, 1917:
IN MEMORIAM
CLAYTON – In loving memory of our dear son Pte. John Clayton, of the West Riding Regiment, killed in action August 4th, 1916, aged 20 years.
He was only lent, short was his stay;
Our Maker’s call we must obey.
Sadly missed – From Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers, 6, Brow Street, Parkwood.
Post war:
on 20th November 1916, his Mother Edith Mary (sole legatee in his will) received 4. 5s. 4d payment (John’s remaining back pay). On 10th October 1919 she (sole legatee in his will) received 9 war gratuity payment.
John was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service. These would have been sent to his parents in 1920/21 along with a King’s certificate and a bronze war memorial plaque inscribed with his name. They would also have received any of his personal effects.
John is remembered locally in Keighley’s Great War Roll of Honour book in Keighley Library and possibly on the Sun Street Methodist Church memorial held at Cliffe Castle. [This is a J. Clayton but he’s down as served and returned and not in the central war dead panel, so it may not be him.]
Information sources:
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
Keighley’s Gallant Sons.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
War diary – 9 Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment. Reference: WO 95/2014/1.
We are grateful to Chris Baker and the Long, Long Trail for Regimental information.
The Keighley News archives held at Keighley library.
