Arthur Claydon

Arthur Claydon
Born (1885-09-25)25 September 1885
Deeping St. James, Lincolnshire, England
Died 8 July 1918(1918-07-08) (aged 32)
Vicinity of Carvin, France
Buried at Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Allegiance Canada
United Kingdom
Service/branch Canadian Expeditionary Force
British Army
Royal Air Force
Years of service 1916–1918
Rank Captain
Unit Canadian Field Artillery
No. 32 Squadron RAF
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross

Captain Arthur Claydon DFC (25 September 1885 - 8 July 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with seven aerial victories.[1]

Biography

Claydon was one of five brothers, born in Deeping St. James, Lincolnshire. In 1902 he and his older brother Ebenezer emigrated to Canada, and after settling in Winnipeg founded their own general contracting business in 1904.[2]

Having been a member of the militia unit The Winnipeg Grenadiers since 1903, he was commissioned as a lieutenant[3] when he enlisted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 18 February 1916,[1] and was assigned to the 38th Battery, 10th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.[4] After arriving in England he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 30 October 1916, to train as a pilot at Reading.[3]

On 29 April 1917 he was seconded to the RFC with the rank of temporary lieutenant,[5] and was appointed a flying officer the same day.[6] He was posted to No. 32 Squadron on 6 September.[3] On 11 November 1917 he was shot down by German ace Max Ritter von Müller, but survived, gaining his first victory shortly afterwards, on 20 November, flying a DH.5.[1]

On 6 May 1918 he was promoted to acting-captain.[7] Between 8 May and 25 June 1918, he gained six more victories (including one shared) flying the S.E.5a.[1]

Claydon was killed on 8 July 1918, after being shot down by Paul Billik of Jagdstaffel 52 near Carvin.[1] He is buried at the Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery at Souchez.[8]

On 2 August 1918 his award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted. The citation read:

Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Arthur Claydon (formerly Canadian Field Artillery).
Recently this officer, single-handed, went to the assistance of another pilot, who was attacked by eleven Fokker biplanes and six scouts. By his gallant conduct and skilful manoeuvring he not only extricated the pilot, but drove down several of the enemy aeroplanes. He has shown great initiative and gallantry in locating, bombing and attacking troops on the ground from low altitudes.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Arthur Claydon". The Aerodrome. 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "678 Main Street Dominion Bank Building" (PDF). City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings Committee. January 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Canadian Virtual War Memorial: Arthur Claydon". Veterans Affairs Canada. 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  4. ↑ Officers who served overseas in the Great War with the Canadian Artillery 1914-1919. Ottawa: Canadian Artillery Association. 1922. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30382. p. 11802. 13 November 1917.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30074. p. 4776. 15 May 1917.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30702. p. 6110. 24 May 1918.
  8. ↑ "Claydon, A.". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30827. p. 9199. 2 August 1918.
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