F.S.A.A. .

Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

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

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

CLAYTON, Frank, Sergeant, 15/West Yorkshire Regiment (Leeds Pals) Frank Clayton was the 4th of 6 children, William, Elizabeth, Charles H, Ralph and Harold. Born to Fanny & Samuel Clayton a commercial clerk master. Frank was an accountant by profession in partnership with his brother William at 72,Albion Street, Leeds. He was not only a ?Fellow of the Society of Accountants & Auditors?, but also a member of the Headingley lodge of Freemasons and for a time connected with the Leeds City football club. On the 4th September 1914 Frank joined the Leeds Pals at the age of 38, He was posted as a Sgt, to ?A? Company of No ?4? Platoon his commanding officer being Lt Robert Huntris Tolson. In July 1916 after the battle, William requested information on his brother?s whereabouts in the ?Yorkshire Evening Post? he received a letter in reply from Reverend C.K.Chappell, the battalion Chaplain that read: ?Little hope of Sgt Clayton?s safety is entertained? Careful enquiries have been made and although I cannot find anyone here? who saw him, I can say with little doubt that your brother his amongst those killed. I am sorry to deprive you of hope, but it is better to know the truth than to bear the pain of uncertainty. We hear that you think, in Leeds, that many have been taken prisoner, but we don?t think here that this is to be relied on. They may have taken 5 or 6 wounded men? Sgt Frank Clayton was killed in action on the 1st July 1916 on the First Day of the Somme. He is buried in Serre Road No1 Cemetery, France He was the Inner Guard of his Lodge. Source; Leeds Pals Website- http://www.leeds-pals.com/

Masonic :

Inner Guard

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