Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree--Claud Charles Castleton, VC

 

Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—Claud Charles Castleton, VC

 

Claud Charles Castleton was born at Kirkley, South Lowestoft, Suffolk, England on 12 April 1893. The was the second son of Thomas Charles and Edith Lucy (nee Payne) Castleton.  His older brother, Francis William Castleton was six years older than Claud.   Claud Charles was educated at Morton Road Council School before winning a scholarship to Kirkley Grammar School. After completing his studies he worked as a teacher at the Morton Road School before emigrating to Australia in 1912. Driven by a curiosity for geography and nature, Castleton became an itinerant worker, following a series of jobs from Tasmania through to Queensland before prospecting for gold in New Guinea.

After the outbreak of the First World War, Castleton made his way to Port Moresby where he joined a local force and was put in command of indigenous troops for communication and coastal defence. He returned to Australia soon afterwards and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Liverpool, Sydney on 10 March 1915 with Regimental number 1352.

Proceeded from Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 16 August 1915. Posted to D Company, 18^th Battalion (18 Bn) he embarked on HMAT A40 Ceramic on 25 June, arriving in Egypt on 24 July.  The battalion moved to Gallipoli on 20 August and, as part of 5 Brigade, was initially placed in reserve. The following day the bloody assault on Hill 60 began.

At dawn on the 22^nd, though inexperienced, 18^th Bn was led through the dark to Damakjelik Bair for an attack on a vital communication trench on Hill 60. The attack was to be made with bombs (hand grenades) and bayonet only. When it was revealed that the battalion had no bombs they were told to ‘do the best that was possible without them.’ At 5.00 am the battalion charged the 150 yards to the enemy trench, taking it with little resistance, but any respite was short lived. Enemy counter-attacks soon eventuated and were resisted by using bombs found abandoned by the Turks in the newly won trench. This, however, gained only enough time to tear sandbags from the parapet to build defensive barricades.

Ultimately the attack on Hill 60 failed though a tenuous corridor had been opened between the troops at Anzac and Suvla Bay. Of the 750 troops of 18^th Bn who took part in the attack, over 380 became casualties, half of that number killed. Castleton survived the assault but was evacuated from Gallipoli suffering from dysentery and was admitted to Hospital Ship 'Nevaska', 15 September 1915 (dysentery); transferred to No 1 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis, 19 September 1915; to No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, 27 September 1915; to New Zealand and Australian Convalescent Hospital, Helouan, 22 October 1915.

He embarked for Gallipoli from Alexandria, 8 November 1915; reported for duty, 18th Bn, Gallipoli, 8 December 1915. He was then appointed Corporal, 7 December 1915 and he rejoined his unit on Gallipoli the following day. Disembarked Alexandria from Mudros, 9 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation).

In January 1916, following the withdrawal of the allied forces from Gallipoli, Castleton was again hospitalised, this time for malaria. He was admitted to 8^th Field Ambulance, Ismailia, 27 January 1916 (malaria); transferred to 2^nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 28 January 1916; to 1^st Australian Stationary Hospital, Ismailia, 29 January 1916; discharged to duty, 16 February 1916; rejoined unit, 17 February 1916. Appointed Temporary Sergeant , 20 February 1916. Transferred to 5^th Machine Gun Company, 8 March 1916.

On 8 March he transferred to 5^th  Australian Machine Gun Company (5MGC). He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, 16 March 1916 and he proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 March 1916 disembarking at Marseilles, 23 March 1916.

On 20 July the 5MGC, as part of 5^th Brigade, were moved up to Warloy-Baillon, west of Pozieres, in preparation for an assault on Pozieres Heights by the Australian 2^nd Division. Pozieres, though successfully taken at great cost by the 1st Division on 23 July, was under constant bombardment and observation by the Germans who were still in control of a commanding position on the ridge overlooking the town. 5^th Brigade moved to the front line, relieving 3^rd Brigade on the 25^th of July.

Late on the evening of the 27^th the Brigade was moved forward in an ill planned and ultimately futile assault on enemy trenches OG (old German) 1 and OG2 between the Bapaume Road and Munster Alley. Preparations for the attack were made in view of the Germans who constantly lit the area with flares, doubling their efforts as allied units moved into position. This was accompanied by an escalating heavy artillery bombardment and withering machine gun fire. Even before the jump-off time of 12.15am on the morning of the 28^th was reached it was clear that the assault had failed. The fire from the enemy positions kept the allied units pinned down, unable either to proceed or withdraw.

It was not until the hour before dawn that the German bombardment eased sufficiently for the allied troops to withdraw in relative safety. In the shell holes and depressions of no-man’s land casualties, unable to move, remained. Seeing this, Castleton crawled out from the trench, under intense fire, and retrieved a wounded comrade. After depositing him safely in the Australian trenches, he again ventured out and brought back another casualty. Immediately he returned for another man, but on this occasion was shot in the back and killed while bringing him back. For his actions he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The recommendation for the award reads:

'For conspicuous gallantry and bravery on the night of the 28/7/16 N. E. of Pozieres when the Infantry made an attack on the German Trench.  During the attack on the enemy trench the infantry were temporarily driven back owing to intense machine gun fire. Many wounded were left lying in shell holes in No Man’s Land.  Whilst No Man’s Land was still under intense M.G. and shrapnel fire, Sgt Castleton went out and twice brought in wounded men on his back; a third time he went out and was bringing back in his third wounded man when he was hit in the back and killed instantly. He set a splendid example of courage and self-sacrifice.'

Killed in action, 29 July 1916.

Initially recorded as being buried ‘[b]etween Pozieres and Bazentin-le Grand-Petit, 4 ¾ mls: N.E. of Albert.’, Castleton was later re-interred in plot IV. L. 43 of the Pozieres British Cemetery at Ovillers-la-Boiselle. His VC came into the National Collection in 1988.

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Posthumously awarded Victoria Cross, 26 September 1916.

Medals: Victoria Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.

The material for this story was compiled and edited from the following sources:

https://www.awm.gov.au/

© 2011  Copyright The AIF Project, UNSW@ADFA, 2011

 

Genealogy:  Claud Charles Castleton 1893-1916 was the son of Thomas Charles Castleton 1867-1944 and his father was Thomas Castleton 1806-1887 and his daughter was Eliza Ann Bishop Castleton 1844-1910 and her son was William Benjamin Castleton 1862-1950 and his daughter was Winifred Maud Castleton 1888-1973 and her daughter was Madge Winifred Minister 1912-1998 and her husband was Harold Sidney W Brown 1911-1970 and his mother was Bessie Jane Thompson 1888-1970 and her mother was Margaret Ann Forster 1848-1930 and her father was William Forster 1811-1883 and his father was William Forster 1778-1854 and his son was Isaac Forster 1801-1890 and his son was Thomas Forster 1837-1888 and his daughter was Caroline Forster 1864-1906 and her husband was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.