Arthur Clayton
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Arthur Clayton was born in 1889 at Hucknall and was the son of Arthur William a coal miner hewer and Elizabeth Clayton née Pepper of 38 Peveril Street Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire. His father Arthur William was born in 1861 at Hucknall his mother Elizabeth Pepper was born in 1863 at Elston, they were married on 28th January 1888 at Hucknall and had the following children, Arthur b1889, Harriett b1892, Walter b1893, William b1898, Frank b1900 and Harry Clayton b1905 all were born in Hucknall. In the 1911 census the family are living at 38 Peverill Street, Hucknall and are shown as Arthur 50 yrs a coal miner hewer, he is living with his wife Elizabeth 48 yrs and their children, Arthur 22 yrs a coal miner hewer, Harriett 19 yrs a charwoman, Walter 17 yrs a pawn brokers assistant, Lizzie 15 yrs, William 13 yrs a potter serving boy, Frank 11 yrs a scholar and Harry 6 yrs, also living at the house is George 1 year a grandson and widow mother Rachel Clayton 83 yrs
Private Arthur Clayton enlisted at Hucknall on 29th August 1914, he was 25 yrs and 160 days of age, he was a coal miner was living at 38 Peveril Street, Hucknall .He served with the 11th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment and went to France on 12th August 1915. Whilst in France he was admitted to hospital in Etaples and Rouen six times between September 1915 and July 1916 for impetigo, scabies and nephritis. He died, 7th August 1916, age 27, in the 3rd Western General Hospital, Cardiff of pneumonia and pleurisy. He is buried at Hucknall Torkard (St. Mary Magadalen And All Saints) Churchyard, Nottinghamshire,
Article published 19th August 1916 in the Notts Local News :- “MILITARY FUNERAL AT HUCKNALL. “SHERWOOD FORESTER DIES OF TRENCH FEVER. “To lose two sons and both brought home in coffins has been the sad lot of Mr. and Mrs. A. Clayton, of 38, Peveril street, Hucknall. Just over three years ago their son Frank was killed on the railway near Bulwell, and now Private Arthur Clayton has succumbed to trench fever at Cardiff Hospital, the internment taking place at Hucknall churchyard on Saturday [12th August 1916] alongside his brother Frank. “Private Arthur Clayton was one of three brothers in the service of the country and went out with the [11th Battalion] Sherwood Foresters just a year ago. Strange to say, nine out of the 12 months have been spent away from the fighting line, for early on he caught the fever whilst engaged on entrenching work, and had to be found a bed in the base hospital. After weary months, during which he sent home the most cheerful letters, he was called upon to again take up his place in the fighting line, and was in the early days of the Somme Battle. He came through all right, as did his brother Walter (in the King’s Royal Rifles), but the fever seemed to get a firmer grip of his weakened frame, and he was once more placed in the hospital at the base. Next he was removed to Cardiff whither his mother and sister journeyed on Bank Holiday. After travelling from morning till mid-afternoon, they found, to their sorrow, that he breathed his last at five o’clock that morning. [7th August 1916] Mrs. Clayton and Miss Clayton remained the night and returned to Hucknall with the sad news on Tuesday. The following day the body arrived and arrangements were made for the funeral last Saturday. He was 27 years of age. Walter (in France) is 22, and William (in training at Sunderland) is just 19. “Due honour was paid to the deceased soldier at the obsequies, the body being conveyed from the home in Peveril street to the church on a gun carriage, drawn by six mules. The battalions of Sherwood Foresters and the Leicesters in the town joined in the procession, and soldiers also acted as bearers. The service was conducted by the Rev. H. B. Edwards and a firing party attended to give the final salute. The thoroughfare was lined with spectators.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 His brothers Rifleman later Sgt. Walter Clayton, 1st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, was wounded twice during the war, on 1st October 1915 and 18th November 1916. A further brother Private William Clayton, 11th and 16th Battalions Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, later Lincolnshire Regiment. He enlisted on 10th February 1916 and was discharged due to wounds on 2nd July 1917.
