Sergeant Claud Charles Castleton

Service number 1352
Ranks Held Private, Sergeant
Birth Date 1893-04-12
Birth Place United Kingdom: England, Suffolk, Kirkley
Death Date 1916-07-29
Death Place France
Final Rank Sergeant
Service Australian Imperial Force
Units
  • 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion
  • 5th Australian Machine Gun Company
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Gazettes Biographical information They dared mightily. in 1963
Published in London Gazette in 1916-09-26
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1916-12-14
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 April 1893
Date of birth 12 April 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 and unit at enlistment (ORs) 10 March 1915 18 Battalion.
Date of enlistment 10 March 1915
Date of embarkation 25 June 1915 Embarked for Egypt.
Date promoted 1915-12 Appointed Corporal.
Date promoted 20 February 1916 Appointed Temporary Sergeant.
Other units 08 March 1916 5 Machine Gun Company.
Date promoted 16 March 1916 Confirmed as Sergeant.
Date of honour or award 28 July 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 death 29 July 1916
Date of death 29 July 1916
Date of fate 29 July 1916
Date of recommendation honour or award 25 August 1916