Private Horatio Claughton of the 8th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. No. 21960.
Private Horatio Claughton
Horatio was born in late 1890 in Yeadon, to parents Harry and Edith Claughton. He was baptised on 15th February 1891 at St John's Church, Yeadon. His father Harry was a Tin plate worker. They were living at 256, High Street, Yeadon, with his brother and sister.
By 1901 he was 10 years old and they had moved to 2, Cherry Street, Haworth, with his brother and three sisters, and their father Harry was working as a Tin Smith for a Tin Platers.
In 1911 they were living at 99, Hebden Road, Haworth, with parents, one brother and five sisters. Horatio was 20 years old and working as a Tinner and Plumber (father's occupation was the same) for Messrs. Merrall and Son, Limited, Lees Mills. Robert enlisted early in 1915. He entered the Balkan war theatre on 21st September, serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers in the Dardanelles and Egypt 'without serious injury'. Sadly he died of his wounds on 26th September 1916.
On 25th September 1917 his effects were left to Amelia Denby in his will, along with a further war gratuity on 20th September 1919. From a local source who knew Amelia Denby later in her life, we have been told that they used to promenade on a Sunday to Cross Roads and that they were engaged to be married. Amelia, a Cloth worker, lived at 183 Hebden Road, Haworth, just along the road from Horatio at no. 99.
Lovers Walk, Cross Roads to Cullingworth.
Horatio was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for his war service. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing in France, on the Cross Roads Lees and Bocking War Memorial in Cross Roads Park Bowling Club, also a War Memorial plaque on the wall inside St James' Church, Cross Roads, and on a modern list of men from the villages of Cross Roads, Lees and Bocking in the same church. Finally he is remembered by name on the family gravestone in Haworth Cemetery, Penistone Hill.
Keighley News article dated 2nd December 1916:
In October last intimation was received by Mr and Mrs H. Claughton, 99, Hebden Road, Lees, from the War Office that their younger son, Private Horatio Claughton, was reported "missing and wounded" on September 26 last. Since that time several inquiries have been made through different channels, but no further information is yet forthcoming.
Private Claughton enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers early in 1915, and went through the Dardanelles campaign without serious injury. At its conclusion he was drafted to Egypt and for some time was engaged in the Sinai Desert. He left for France in the early summer of this year and was in action from time to time until September 26. Before enlisting Private Claughton, who was 27 years of age, was plumber for Messrs. Merrall and Son, Limited, Lees Mills, and had the reputation of being a first-class workman. Deep sympathy is manifested towards Mr and Mrs Claughton and their family by their many friends in the Worth Valley and at Yeadon.
Source information:
Birth, marriage and death records.
1891, 1901 and 1911 census.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Army service records.
Keighley News archives, Keighley Library.
Photographs by Andy Wade.
