Family :

Education & Career :

Halstead Grammar School

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

Actions in Spring 1916 covers a number of non specific actions on the Western Front in the period February to the end of June 1916. Much of this period concerned the build up to the Battle of the Somme, particularly the acclimatisation of the Service Battalions (Kitchener Volunteers) to trench routine. As the Battle of the Somme occupied the plans for 1916 no significant efforts were made in other sectors. Many of the casualties could be considered 'routine'. During the period December to June 1916 5845 British soldiers died in 'minor trench operations'.

Detail :

CLAPHAM Christopher Albon, 2/Lieutenant. 8/York and Lancaster Regt. Killed in Action 10 February 1916, aged 40 Christofer (sic; spelt Christopher on the census returns) Albon Clapham was born 15 Sept 1875 to George Dixon Clapham and his wife Mary Ann in Great Dunmow Essex. His father, George, was 46 and a Corn and Coal merchant. The family employed four servants including a nurse. In November 1893 he joined the London Rifle Brigade and was with them until April 1912, so he was probably in the South African war as indicated in his obituary. On 10 February 1915 was accepted a commission into the 8/York and Lancaster Regiment. During January and February 1916 on the Western Front, there were no major battles raging. The line was being held, with the usual shelling, sniping and raiding parties taking their inevitable toll of casualties. During early February 1916 Christofer's Battalion was in a quiet sector at Fleurbaix in Brigade reserve, providing working and carrying parties up to the front line. On the 7 February they moved up into front line trenches near the village of La Boutillerie. On 10 February the Germans shelled the parapet at map reference N5/1, with high explosive shells. One of the shells entered a dug out which also served as the Officers Mess and killed 2nd Lt Christofer Albon Clapham. Initially he was buried at Croix Marechal, south east of Fleurbaix. (Map sheet 36, sq, H, 34.a.9.7.) but in 1920 the CWGC was consolidating the burial grounds and he was re-interred in the Rue David Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix. His obituary appeared in the Times on 21 Feb 1916. His plaque and War Scroll were sent to his mother but his brother Edward was the Grantee for his effects. The CWGC states that he was the son of Mary Anne Clapham, of Suffolk House, Worple Road, Epsom, and the late George Dixon Clapham. Native of Great Dunmow, Essex. Source; http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/WarMemorialsSurnamesC.html#ClaphamCA

Masonic :

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley