Service number | 1352 |
---|---|
Ranks Held | Private, Sergeant |
Birth Date | 12/04/1893 |
Birth Place | United Kingdom: England, Suffolk, Kirkley |
Death Date | 29/07/1916 |
Death Place | France |
Final Rank | Sergeant |
Service | Australian Imperial Force |
Units |
|
Places | |
Event | The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1352) Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton VC, 5th Machine Gun Company, AIF, First World War 1914-1918 |
Conflict/Operation | First World War, 1914-1918 |
Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton
Born in England, Claud Castleton (1893-1916) arrived in Melbourne in 1912 seeking travel and adventure. For three years he toured Tasmania, the eastern states, and Papua. He was in Port Moresby when the First World War began, but in March 1915 returned to Sydney to enlist. He served on Gallipoli with the 18th Battalion and in March 1916 transferred to the 5th Machine Gun Company.
Castleton was killed at Pozières on 29 July 1916 during an action for which he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. During a night attack on enemy trenches, the infantry was driven back and then held down by intense enemy machine-gun fire. Many wounded men were left lying in no man's land, and on two occasions Castleton went out in the face of enemy fire to bring in wounded men on his back. When he went out a third time, he was himself hit in the back and instantly killed. His body was later recovered and is buried in the main British war cemetery at Pozières.
Rolls
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files:
- Unit
- 5th Australian Machine Gun Company
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
-
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):
- Unit
- 5th Australian Machine Gun Company
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
-
Honours and Awards:
- Unit
- 5th Australian Machine Gun Company
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
-
First World War Embarkation Roll:
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Private
-
First World War Nominal Roll:
- Unit
- 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
-
Roll of Honour:
- Unit
- 5th Australian Machine Gun Company
- Conflict
- First World War, 1914-1918
- Rank
- Sergeant
Timeline
Date of birth | 12/04/1893 | |
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Other | 1912 | Migrated to Australia. |
Other | 1914 | He was in Port Moresby when the war broke out and immediately offered his services. He was placed in charge of some native troops for coastal defence duties. Later working at the radio station. |
Date promoted | 12/1915 | Appointed Corporal. |
Date of enlistment | 10/03/1915 | |
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) | 10/03/1915 | 18 Battalion. |
Date of embarkation | 25/06/1915 | Embarked for Egypt. |
Date of honour or award | 28/07/1916 | Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Pozieres, France whilst serving with 5 Machine Gun Company, 5 Brigade, 2 Division as a Sergeant |
Date of fate | 29/07/1916 | |
Date of death | 29/07/1916 | |
Date promoted | 20/02/1916 | Appointed Temporary Sergeant. |
Date of recommendation honour or award | 25/08/1916 | |
Other units | 08/03/1916 | 5 Machine Gun Company. |
Date promoted | 16/03/1916 | Confirmed as Sergeant. |
Related information
Conflicts
Units
Subjects
Related Objects
- The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1352) Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton VC 5th Machine Gun Company, AIF, First World War.
- Portrait of 1352 Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton, 5th Company, Australian Machine Gun Corps. ...
- Portrait of 1352 Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton, 5th Company, Australian Machine Gun Corps. ...
- Victoria Cross : Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton, 5 Machine Gun Company, AIF
- 1914-15 Star : Private C C Castleton, 18 Battalion, AIF
- British War Medal 1914-20 : Sergeant C C Castleton, 5 Machine Gun Company, AIF
- Victory Medal : Sergeant C C Castleton, 5 Machine Gun Company, AIF