Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

L/Cpl 17290 Joseph Thomas Clayton

Age: 23
From: Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
Panel Ref: P21-23

Joseph Thomas Clayton was born in late June 1895 in Liverpool, the son of Joseph Thomas and Elizabeth Ann. Clayton (nee Barlow), of "Hillcote", Long Lane, Aughton, Ormskirk, Lancs. They were married 13th June 1887 at St James, Toxteth Park, and both were living in Kirkby. His father, born in Liverpool, and his mother, from Kirby, Lancashire, married in 1887 and had six children, four of whom sadly died young.Their first child, William, died at the age of 12 weeks, (the parents at the time living at 12 Turton Street in Kirkdale). Baby twins both died in infancy, Joseph at 14 days and Elizabeth at 10 days (when the family was living at 54 Beresford Street). Joseph had younger siblings John, born in 1900, and Walter Stanley, who died at 11 months (the family address 54 Evelyn Street).At the time of the 1901 Census the parents with two children are living at 107 Leyden Street in Kirkdale. His father works as a ships; painter, Joseph is 5, and John 6 months.The 1911 Census finds the family at 21 Primrose Street, Kirkdale. Joseph senior, 41, is a foreman painter with a steamship company, his mother is 42, Joseph, 15, is an office boy for a metal broker, and 10-year old John is at school.

His service record survives and shows that Joseph enlisted at St. George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914 joining the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 17290, giving his next of kin as his father Joseph, at 29 Rice Lane, Walton. He gave his age as 19 years and 68 days and his occupation as clerk. He was described as being 5' 7 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 125 lbs, with a sallow complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. He stated his religion as Presbyterian.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.His service record shows:

11/05/1916 Wounded, to Field Ambulance, remained at duty06-12/09/1916 XI Corps Sniping Course13-21/03/1917 30th Div. Identification of Aircraft CourseAppointed unpaid Lance Corporal 03/04/191713-15/05/1917 Sick, to Field Ambulance, ICT back, boils

03/06/1917 Admitted 22nd General Hospital

14/06/1917 Joined 24 I.B.D. Etaples

24/06/1917 Proceeded to join unitGranted leave to the U.K. 24th July to 06th August 1917Appointed paid Lance Corporal 09/08/191719/08 - 01/09/1917 IX Corps Bombing School25/09/1917 IX Corps Infantry School05/11/1917 rejoined unit

Joseph was declared Missing between 22nd -28th March 1918. His mother, living at 29 Rice Lane, wrote to the International Red Cross requesting information on L/Cpl 17290, Sniper Section, Headquarters Company, K.L.R. A reply was sent on 7th June 1918 stating that the ICR held no information.

His parents posted an appeal in the Liverpool Echo on 13th August 1918:

“Missing since March 22, 1918, Lce.-Cpl Joseph T. Clayton, 17290 K.L.R. Any information will be thankfully received by his Parents, 29 Rice Lane, Walton.”

Over a year later, his parents had still not found out what happened to their son. On 22nd April 1919, his father wrote to Infantry Records requesting information:

“Could you give me any information on my son ... He has been reported missing since March 22nd/18 and we have no word whatever since the letter came to say that he was missing. I see in the paper that all the missing and the Prisoners has been accounted for. So I would be very grateful to you if you could give me some information of him or tell me where you think would be the best place to write to. I have written to all places where I thought I could get information about him but I can get no news whatever. Hoping to hear from you soon, yours respectfully, Mr. J. Clayton, 29 Rice Lane, Walton.”

There is no record of a response. It is not known when his family learned of Joseph’s fate.

The Battalion diary gives an overview of the events of the 22nd March 1918 as follows:

22^nd GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

His death was later presumed for official purposes as having occurred on 22nd March 1918.

Joseph's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

Joseph is commemorated on the Memorial in the Union Presbyterian Church, Kirkdale.

He is also commemorated on the family headstone located iin Kirkdale Cemetery, Liverpool -

Also Joseph Thomas Clayton, Son of the above, Who was killed in action March 22nd 1918, aged 23 years.

In June 1919 his parents and brother John, 18, were living at 29 Rice Lane. Joseph earned his three medals which his parents signed for, as well as his Memorial Scroll.

His father received Joseph’s Army effects and a War Gratuity of £20-10s. The pension card in the name of his mother, at 29 Rice Lane and later at Long Lane, Aughton, shows a pension of 10/- a week. After his mother died the pension went to his father.

His mother Elizabeth Ann died age 60 and was buried at Kirkdale Cemetery on the 18th November 1927

In 1939 his father, then 70 years old and retired, was living at "Hillcote" Mersey View ("was Long Lane"), Aughton, West Lancs. Son John, 39, lives in the household with his wife and children and works as a shipping clerk.

His father Joseph, of Hill Cote, Long Lane, Aughton, died on the 26th August 1943, aged 74, probate was granted on 03rd November 1943 to John Clayton commercial clerk. Effects £1035.

We currently have no further information on Joseph Thomas Clayton, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(108 Years this day)
Sunday 22nd April 1917.
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(107 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
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