Claud Charles Castleton VC (1893 - 1916)

Born 12 Apr 1893 in Kirkey, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 29 Jul 1916 at age 23 in Pozières, Somme, Picardie, France

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Biography

Claud Castleton VC is Notable.

Claud Castleton VC was born in Suffolk, England.

Claud Castleton VC is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Claud Charles Castleton VC was born in 1893 in Kirkey, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom. ^[1] Educated at a council school, he won a scholarship to the grammar school.

In the 1901 census Claude (age 7) was the son of Thomas Castleton in Kirkley, Suffolk, England.^[2]

In 1912 he set off on a long adventure, stopping first at Melbourne, Australia. He worked in various parts of Australia before heading to New Guinea, intending to earn funds for the return journey to England via New Zealand, India and Africa. Matters changed with the outbreak of the First World War; Claud joined the Australian force formed in New Guinea for the defence of the area in the face of German warship activities.

Victoria Cross

Castleton returned to Sydney and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 10th March 1915. ^[3] He embarked aboard HMAT Ceramic A40 on 25th June. ^[4] He served on Gallipoli with the 18th Infantry Battalion and in March 1916, on promotion to Sergeant, transferred to the 5th Machine Gun Company, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. ^[5] He deployed to the Western Front, in the Somme Valley, France, in June 1916. It was not long before the following deed took place for which Claud was killed in action and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross (VC):

"On the night of the 28-29th July 1916 near Pozières, France, during a night attack the infantry was temporarily driven back by the intense machine gun fire from the enemy trenches. Many wounded were left in "No Man's Land" lying in shell holes. Sergeant Castleton went out twice in the face of this intense fire, and each time brought in a wounded man on his back. He went out a third time and was bringing in another wounded man when he was himself hit in the back and killed instantly." ^[6]

Sergeant Claud Castleton VC was killed in action at Pozières during The Great War.

Claud Charles Castleton's name is located at panel 177 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, and is buried at Pozières British Military Cemetery, Somme, France, 3 miles NE of Albert (Plot IV, Row L, Grave 43).^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Registration: "England & Wales General Register Office," database, GRO Online Indexes - Birth (accessed 16 January 2024), Castleton, Claud Charles (Mother's maiden name: Payne). GRO Reference: 1893 Apr-May-Jun in Mutford Volume 04A Page 999.
2. ↑ 1901 Census: "1901 England Census," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7814 #10297945 (accessed 16 January 2024), Claude Castleton (7) son in household of Thomas Castleton (34) in Kirkley in Mutford registration district in Suffolk, England. Born in Kirkley, Suffolk, England; citing Class RG13, Piece 1802, Folio 108, Page 29, ED, institution, or vessel 11, Household schedule number 188.
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: 1352 Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton; accessed 12 Mar 2019
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll: 1352 Private Claud Charles Castleton; accessed 12 Mar 2019
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 5th Machine Gun Company; accessed 12 Mar 2019
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: 1352 Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton VC; accessed 12 Mar 2019
7. ↑ Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: 1352 Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton; accessed 12 Mar 2019

See also

• Wikipedia profile: Claud Castleton.