Private 13891 Frank Clay


Clay Frank 96 423x600 Clay Frank Swan Tavern 96
Picture of Frank courtesy of Graeme Clarke, and the Swan Tavern courtesty of www.longpull.co.uk


Killed in Action Balkans on Wednesday, 25th April 1917, age 24.
Commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.

12th Bn., Hampshire Regiment. 79th Brigade of 26th Division.
Formerly 7639 Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

Son of William Clay and step-son of Emma Clay of The Swan Tavern, Eagle Street, Tipton, Staffs. Son of the late Mary Clay.
Born: Bentley, Enlisted: Worcester, Resident: West Bromwich.

First landed France & Flanders, 21st September 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial, but commemorated on the Brownhills Roll of Honour.
Commemorated here because resident in Tipton.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1649054/


Genealogical Data

Birth of Frank Clay registered December quarter 1892 in Walsall.

Frank’s mother, Mary, died shortly after his birth in 1892. His father, William, re-married in 1895 so Emma was his step-mother.

1901 Census
Bosty Lane, Great Barr, Walsall.
William Clay (50, Waggoner, born Nottingham), his wife Emma (51, born Edgemond, Shropshire), and their 6 children: Harriet Ann (25, Dressmaker, born Sutton Coldfield), Alfred (18, Coal Miner – Hewer, born Rushall), Arthur (16, Carter, born Rushall), Samuel (13, School Boy, born Aldridge), Laura (11, born Bentley) and Frank (8, born Bentley). Also Alexandra Richards (Step-Son, 20, Coal Miner – Hewer, born Wolverhampton).

1911 Census
Bosty Lane, Great Barr, Walsall.
William Clay (60, Farm Labourer, born Arnold, Nottingham), his wife Emma (60, born Edgemond, Shropshire), and William’s youngest son: Frank (8, born Leamore, Walsall).


Personal Data

Frank's connection with Tipton is fairly slight to negligible. The Walsall Observer gives his address as the Swan Tavern, Tipton. His father, William, was licensee of the Swan Tavern, 1 Eagle Street, Tipton, from 1917 to 1921 (per "Hitchmough's Black Country Pubs" at www.longpull.co.uk). As Frank enlisted in 1915 and in 1917 was in Salonika, it is questionable if he ever visited his parents at the Swan Tavern.

After Frank's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £13/1/10d (13 pounds, 1 shilling and 10 pence); this was paid to his father, William, in November 1917. His War Gratuity was £12/0/0d (12 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his father in April 1920. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Frank had enlisted in approximately September 1914. No Pension Records exist for Frank, so his parents were not seen as dependants.


Action resulting in his death

From "Old Foleyans Remembered: Casualties of WW1". Old Foleyans being Old Boys of Oldswinford Hospital School, Stourbridge.
After dark on April 23rd, the 12th Hampshires moved up for the Division's attack on the Jumeaux Ravine it had so long been facing. In this attack the 79th Brigade was on the right, from the Lake to Petit Couronne, which the Devon's were again tackling, the 12th Hampshire's objective, 'O.3', being east of the Petit Couronne and astride a wide gully, Wylye Ravine. On their right the 7th Wiltshires were attacking 'O.1' and 'O.2' next to the lake.

Nobody who had faced the Petit Couronne and neighbouring defences for several months could have any illusions about the desperate character of the venture. Our bombardment had done little damage to the formidable Bulgarian defences, their trenches having largely been blasted from the solid rock, the wire had not been very effectively cut and our guns had quite failed to master or silence those of the enemy, who had every advantage in observation and knew the range to a nicety. It is indeed difficult to understand how this sector should ever have been selected for an attack.

By 8.15pm on April 24th, the 12th Hampshire had started moving forward, to be caught by the enemy's barrage half an hour before Zero scheduled for 9.45pm, and so prevented from reaching their assembly position, a sunken road between Swindon and Silbury Hills, before our barrage lifted. But the 79th Brigade had been cut to pieces, the 12th Hampshires having 15 officers and 249 men hit."

"Soldiers Died in the Great War" shows the 12th Hampshires having 24 men killed on 24th April, and 32 men killed on the 25th April. Three Tipton men, Frank Clay, Arthur Mason and John Gwynne, are recorded as killed in action on 25th April. Frank Clay and Arthur Mason have no known grave and are commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, John Gwynne is buried in Doiran Military Cemetery. Both the Memorial and Cemetery are in northern Greece near the Macedonian border.


Newspaper Cuttings

The Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle, June 16th 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR
N.C.O.s AND MEN KILLED OR DIED OF WOUNDS
Private Frank Clay of the Swan Tavern, Great Bridge, and late of Lodge Cottage, Shelfield, was killed on April 24 (Editor: April 25 per CWGC) while in action with the Hampshire Regiment. He joined the colours in September 1915, previous to which he was a miner employed at Norton Canes. He was 21 years of age, and single.