WW1 Medal Card / Soldier info please

[ajbaker]

Hi,

Today I downloaded two medal cards for my great uncle Thomas William Clayton, and I have a few questions about him.

I know what all the information means except:

Col... to ...56341 in the top right.
Theatre of War - 4A. I don't know what the 4A refers to.
The ref after Emblems (I know Emblems refers to 'MiD')
The bit in the Remarks section.

I am also unsure which units he was in for the various Corps. How do I find out?

He re-enlisted for WW2 but was drowned in a troop ship off Ireland in 1940. Am I able to get hold of his service record, and if so, from where?

Thanks,
Adam

[manmack]

hiya adam,most of what i found is probably what you already know,but i stuck i all togethor for ease of ref.
L/sergeant thomas,william clayton
loyal north lancs regt
No 9350
DCM he won this serving with this regt,hes in the london gazette 18-6-17,thats where you will find his citation.
then he transferred to the royal engineers as L/sgt No a279483.
then he was commissioned back into the loyal north lancs as a 2/lieutenant,commissioned 8-6-17,not certain,but he may have been comm for his gallant conduct.
then he was promoted to lieutenant into the kings african rifles
he landed in a theatre of war on the 16-10-14,i think theatre 4 is africa.

ww2
capt
No 21899
pioneer corps,auxillery militia
formerly loyal north lancs regt
age 52
died 8-8-40
son of thomas,william +katherine clayton of scarborough
husband of jerry clayton
buried in termon old churchyard,dungloe,grave No 3
also buried here are 2 of his men
pioneers thomas petch+john,george surley,both died on the 7-8-40,so your uncle may have died of wounds
i think your uncle was already in the army before ww1 started
his mentions in despatch is dated 11-2-22
you will find info on the african rifles in these files at the n/a. co534/26ff373-422
adam,post his index card on the great war forum,two of my mates know what those inter dep numbers mean.mack

[ajbaker]

Hi Mack,

That's great. Thanks very much for looking him up. I will post his index card on the great war forum to see if anyone knows about the numbers.

I've tried looking for his DCM citation in the London Gazette on this date (and any other date), and I can't find him anywhere. I've found nine other references to him regarding promotion etc, but nothing regarding his DCM or MiD. Does anyone know where I'm going wrong?

I assume that because he re-enlisted, his service records won't be at the NA. Will they be at the Glasgow Army Personnel Centre do you think, and will it include info about his full army service, right from when he joined up before WW1?

Regards,
Adam

[manmack]

adam,his records for ww2 are at kentigern house in scotland,i cant be sure about his previous service,it may be on his record,he may not have left the army,he could have still been a serving soldier when ww2 broke out,i think he was,do you want the address of the loyal north lancs museum,they may help you,mack

[ajbaker]

Mack,

Yes, I'd like the address of the Loyal North Lancashire's museum please.

Thanks,
Adam

[manmack]

they all come under this museum,
queens lancashire regt
fulwood barracks
preston
lancs
pr2 4aa
tel 01772 260 362
did you download his other MIC,put in t w clayton,thats his other card,mack

[ajbaker]

Thanks Mack,

Yes, I've got his DCM MIC. It's not got much on, but gives the Gazette entry date (still can't find the actual entry). It's also got the following reference: B85 - 30. Do you know what it means?

Cheers,
Adam

[joeh]

Hi Adam
I was at your great Uncles grave recently and photographed his headstone.
He is buried beside fellow Pioneer Corps members  in a very remote area of Co Donegal.The other  names are Pt J G Surley, Pt T Petch .
Hope this will be of help to you

Regards
Joe

[whiteout7]

DCM London Gazette entry for Thomas William Clayton, the citation was for being a devoted soldier.
'9350 L./Sgt. T. W. Clayton, N. Lanc. R.
Has rendered efficient and valuable service as serjeant of the Brigade Signal Section. Neither sickness nor fatigue have ever deterred him from the full performance of his duties. His example has imbued both British and Indian ranks of his section with the same sense of devotion to duty.'

I think he found a bit more