Claydon, Frederick: my Army recollections (July 23 - August 7, 1982)
PublicABSTRACT: Pte. Frederick Claydon, M.M. 43rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa) Claydon_F_0163_01.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 1) Born on Oct. 29, 1898 in London, England (d. 198-). At the age of three or four years he emigrated to Canada with his older brother to live with his grandparents on a farm near Elkhorn, Man. Speaks of prairie conditions, lack of formal education. Personal views of military. As a teenager joined the 12th Manitoba Dragoons (militia) at Virden, Man. Opinion of the Ross rifle under service conditions. Manitoba Dragoons' equipment. (45:00) Claydon_F_0163_02.mp3 Attempted to join the army in 1914, but found to be too young, however in 1915 was able to join the 79th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (C.E.F). in Brandon, Man. (20:00) Claydon_F_0163_03.mp3 (Reel 1, Side 2) In Jan. 1916 he was in England for only four days before proceeding to France as a reinforcement for the 43rd Battalion, C.E.F. Anecdotes. Trench warfare experiences. Ypres, Somme. Discusses the first model tanks, weapons, crew, protected only against small arms fire. (45:00) Claydon_F_0163_04.mp3 Wounded on the Somme. Battle of Courcelette, 1916, heavy casualties. Experiences with Australians. (30:00) Claydon_F_0163_05.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 1) After the Somme and the fight for Regina Trench the battalion was reduced to sixty-three men. Comments on trench life, Vimy Ridge, etc. Rations somewhat short except for cheese! Became one of the company scouts. (30:00) Explains the making of their own "jam tin" grenades before the advent of the Mills bomb. Attitude of non-commissioned officers in and out of the trenches. Winter warfare a cold and muddy existence. (45:00) Claydon_F_0163_06.mp3 Additional trench anecdotes. (20:00) Claydon_F_0163_07.mp3 (Reel 2, Side 2) Participated in a trench raid five days before the battle for Vimy Ridge. The 43rd Battalion was in reserve during the battle itself, moving forward later in the morning to relieve a forward battalion. Scouted for a fighting patrol . Later on involved in the periphery of the battle for Hill 70. In Oct. 1917 he was granted leave and visited his parents in London. (45:00) Claydon_F_0163_08.mp3 Good times in London. Returned to the battalion at Passchendaele just in time to "go over the top" the next morning. Searched for a lost platoon. Conditions of extreme desolation, mud, etc., no trenches, only shell holes, nothing but the slowest movement possible. Comments on the award of the Victoria Cross to Lt. R. Shankland. (28:00) Claydon_F_0163_09.mp3 (Reel 3, Side 1) Returns to an account of Passchendaele. German pillboxes on the Bellevue spur. Heavy casualties. (25:00) (With the aid of a map, Claydon describes his movements.) Withdrawn from the line for a short time to receive reinforcements, they were soon back. (45:00) Claydon_F_0163_010.mp3 Sixty years later Claydon was able to point out to the War Graves Commission the place where a member of the 43rd Battalion was buried in 1917. Explains that he won the Military Medal at Vimy Ridge while acting as company scout. In the Lens area for Christmas, 1917. Draws attention to the long scar on his arm caused by a bayonet wound. (28:00) Claydon_F_0163_011.mp3 (Reel 3, Side 2) Amiens area. Slated for court martial for being in the company of a drunken friend who assaulted the commanding officer of the battalion. Friend killed shortly thereafter, commanding officer wounded, so the matter was dropped. Considered a "lucky" leader by patrol members. Stumbled into a German dugout where he suffered the bayonet wound in the arm, but was able to capture a number of the enemy. Seriously wounded in the knee shortly thereafter. He was eventually picked up; dressing station, Australian field hospital where his leg was amputated, hospital ship, months in hospital in England. Sailed for Canada in July 1919. Toronto hospital where he was fitted with an artificial leg. (45:00) Claydon_F_0163_012.mp3 Discharged from hospital and the army in Dec. 1919. Received a disabilty pension of thirty dollar s per month.(48:00)
Rank: Private. Medals and Honours: Military Medal (MM)
An interview/narrative of Frederick Claydon's experiences during World War I. Private Claydon, M.M. served with the 43rd Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (Cameron Highlanders of Canada). Interview took place on July 23, August 1, 5 and 7, 1982.
Interviewee: Claydon, Frederick, b. 1898
Interviewer: Bell, Chris
- In Collection:
- 12 sound recordings (MP3)
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Three original sound tape reels (ca. 405 min.) : 1 7/8 ips, 2 track, mono. ; 6 sound cassette copies : standard, mono. in Special Collections.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- CF_163
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/reginald-herbert-roy-fonds
- June 30, 2006
- Digital sound recording in .wav format at 16 bits and 22 kHz. In .mp3 format at 56 kbps and 22 kHz. Digitized by SC and HC, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. ; WWI Transferred from audio reel to audio cassette between 1987-1997. Interview migrated to digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2006. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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