Harry Clay

He attested 8/9/1914 standing 5' 4" and weighing 126 lbs. He was posted 11/9/1914. He was punished with CB (confined to barracks) several times for being absent or overstaying passes and with 7 Days Field Punishment No 2 on 23/5/1915 for disobeying an order. He was killed in action on 4th August 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

In memoriam published 4th August 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “CLAY. – Killed in action August 4th, 1916, Rifleman H. Clay, Rifle Brigade, of 11, Finch-street. I think I see his smiling face as he bade his last good-bye, he left his home for ever in a distant land to die, but the hardest part is yet to come when the heroes all return, when I miss among the cheering crowd the face of my loved one. – From his loving wife and baby.” An article was published on 30th August 196 in the Nottingham Daily Express :- The inquest into the death of Rebecca Durant was held on 6th September 1915. She was said to have been convinced that she would die before her son returned from the war. Her son, Harry Clay (pictured), did not return from the war. “PREMONITION OF DEATH. “Remarkable Nottingham Inquest Story. “A remarkable story was told at an inquiry held at the Leen-side Coroner's Court yesterday [6th September 1915] in reference to the death of Rebecca Durant, aged 50, of 10, Eyre-yard, Eyre-street, Sneinton. “An elderly man, John Charles Clay, told the City Coroner (Mr. C. L. Rothera) that the deceased with whom he had lived as husband for 21 years, had not been well for some time. During the past fortnight she had frequently said that she would die before her son got back from the war. Last Friday night [3rd September 1915] she remained on the sofa, being afraid to go to bed lest she should die. Shortly before seven o'clock on Saturday morning she decided to go to bed. In ascending the stairs she lost her balance and fell backwards into the kitchen. Her head was cut as a result, and witness bathed the wound. Immediately this had been done the deceased went upstairs to bed unattended. She became unconscious the following morning [5th September 1915] and died about half-past ten. “Dr. A. C. Reid said the deceased was unconscious when he saw her at home. In his post-mortem examination the doctor found that the wound consisted of a laceration of the scalp extending to the bone. There was no fracture of the skull, nor was there any disease of other organs. In his opinion death was due to shock following the fall. “Asked if he could explain why the deceased should anticipate that she was going to die, the doctor said it was possible that there might be some irregularity in the heart's action or some disease of blood vessels on the brain which were not apparent on post-mortem examination. “A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned, the coroner remarking that it was a most extraordinary case from beginning to end.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918