Maurice James CLAXTON

CLAXTON, Maurice James

Service Number: 1239
Enlisted: 21 July 1915, Blackboy Hill, Western Australia
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 32nd Infantry Battalion
Born: St Arnaud, Victoria, Australia, 21 March 1892
Home Town: Broomehill, Broomehill-Tambellup, Western Australia
Schooling: State School, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Teamster
Died: Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916, aged 24 years
Cemetery: Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery
Plot IV. Row D. Grave 11
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Broomehill District WW1Roll of Honour, Broomehill War Memorial, Coonooer Bridge War Memorial, Shire of Charlton Honour Board
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World War 1 Service

21 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1239, Depot Battalion , Blackboy Hill, Western Australia
18 Nov 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
18 Nov 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide
17 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T "Transylvania"
23 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Marseilles, France
20 Jul 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1239, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Private M. J. Claxton, son of Mr. J. Claxton, of Coonooer Bridge, has made the great sacrifice in defence of the Empire. The Defence Department in a telegram to the Rev. A. E. Davey stated :—"It is  officially reported that 1239 Pte. M. J. Claxton was killed in action on 20/7/16. Previously reported missing. Convey to Mr. Claxton sympathy of King and Queen and Commonwealth.—Colonel Hawker."  The deceased and a brother enlisted in West Australia  and left for Egypt in November, 1915. After service there they went straight to France. There they went into action together, and after their first  engagement both were reported missing on the 20th July, 1916. It subsequently transpired that one brother was captured by the Germans, but no tidings of his brother and comrade in arms had come to hand until the receipt of the official message a few days ago conveyed the sad news that he was killed in action. 

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Biography contributed by VWM Australia

RE-INTERRED 2023

Private Claxton's remains were positively identified in 2023 and have been re-interred at the Pheasant Wood Cemetery on 20 July 2023. Previously listed at VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial.