George Clayton was born in late 1892 (Preston Dec ¼ 1892 vol 8e p547) at his family home 61 Porter Street, Preston, Lancashire. He was the fourth child and fourth son of Thomas and Kate Ellen Clayton.

By 1911, aged 18, he was an apprentice painter and decorator living at home with his parents.

In the summer of 1913, when he was only 20, George married Ethel Tromans in Blackburn, Lancashire (Blackburn Jun ¼ 1913 vol 8e p783). Their only child, a daughter they named Gladys, was born later that year (Blackburn Dec ¼ 1913 vol 8e p555).

George Clayton was 21 years old when war was declared. Gladys was less than a year old.

 In Accrington, a month after the outbreak of war, the Accrington Observer & Times of 8th September 1914 reported that the War Office had accepted an offer made by the mayor of Accrington, Captain John Harwood, to raise a complete battalion for Kitchener’s new army.

Recruitment began on 14th September and 104 men were accepted in the first three hours. Brothers, cousins, friends and workmates enlisted together, and by 24th September 1914 the Accrington battalion had reached a full strength of 36 officers and 1,076 other ranks. Around half the battalion had been recruited from Accrington and District; the majority of the remainder had been raised in the neighbouring towns of Burnley, Chorley and Blackburn. George and Ethel were living at 13 St Lawrence Street, Great Harwood near Blackburn. George Clayton was one of the men who enlisted in Accrington in September 1914.

Sometime between 7.20am and 8.00am on July 1st 1916, George Clayton died on the Somme. He was 23 years old. His daughter Gladys was two and a half. His body has never been found. Out of some 720 Accrington Pals who took part in the attack at Serre that day, 585 were killed, wounded or missing. 235 were killed and 350 wounded in about half an hour. British casualties on this day alone totalled 60,000.

CLAYTON, Pte. George, 15077; born Preston; lived at 13 St. Lawrence Street, Great Harwood; Killed In Action 1st July 1916; aged 23 is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He has never been forgotten by his wife, daughter and extended family.

Val Stevenson