Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton

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
  • 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion
  • 5th Australian Machine Gun Company
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
Description

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

Timeline

Date of birth 12/04/1893
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.