Arthur Claydon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Claydon
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 25 September 1885 Deeping St. James, Lincolnshire, England |
| Died | 8 July 1918 (aged 32) Vicinity of Carvin, France |
| Buried |
Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
|
| Allegiance | Canada United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Canadian Expeditionary Force British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1918 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | Canadian Field Artillery No. 32 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Captain Arthur Claydon DFC (born September 25, 1885 – died July 8, 1918) was a brave British World War I pilot. He was known as a flying ace, which means he shot down at least five enemy aircraft. Arthur Claydon achieved seven aerial victories during the war.
Contents
Arthur Claydon's Early Life
Arthur Claydon was born in 1885 in a place called Deeping St. James, England. He was one of five brothers. In 1902, when he was about 17, he and his older brother, Ebenezer, moved to Canada. They settled in a city called Winnipeg. By 1904, they had started their own business. They were general contractors, which means they managed building projects.
Joining the Military
Arthur Claydon had been part of a local army group in Canada since 1903. This group was called The Winnipeg Grenadiers. When World War I was happening, he officially joined the Canadian army. This happened on February 18, 1916. He became a lieutenant and was part of the Canadian Field Artillery. This unit used large guns in battle.
Becoming a Pilot
After arriving in England, Arthur decided to become a pilot. On October 30, 1916, he joined the Royal Flying Corps. This was the air force of the time. He began his pilot training in a town called Reading.
On April 29, 1917, he officially became a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. He was given the rank of temporary lieutenant. Later that day, he was made a flying officer. On September 6, he joined No. 32 Squadron RAF, a group of pilots.
First Victories in the Air
On November 11, 1917, Arthur Claydon's plane was shot down. The German ace Max Ritter von Müller was responsible. Luckily, Arthur survived the crash.
Just nine days later, on November 20, he achieved his first aerial victory. He was flying a Airco DH.5 aircraft. This meant he successfully shot down an enemy plane.
Becoming a Captain and More Victories
On May 6, 1918, Arthur Claydon was promoted. He became an acting captain. This was a big step up in his military career.
Between May 8 and June 25, 1918, he achieved six more victories. He was flying a different type of plane now, called the Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a. One of these victories was shared with another pilot. This brought his total number of aerial victories to seven.
His Final Flight and Legacy
Sadly, Captain Arthur Claydon was killed on July 8, 1918. His plane was shot down by a German pilot named Paul Billik. This happened near a town called Carvin in France.
Arthur Claydon was buried at the Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery. This cemetery is located in Souchez, France.
Distinguished Flying Cross
On August 2, 1918, Arthur Claydon was honored with a special award. It was called the Distinguished Flying Cross. This award is given for bravery in air combat.
The official statement about his award said: "Recently, this officer, all by himself, went to help another pilot. That pilot was being attacked by many enemy planes. There were eleven Fokker biplanes and six scout planes. Captain Claydon was very brave and skilled. He not only saved the other pilot, but he also forced several enemy planes to go down. He showed great courage and smart thinking. He was also good at finding, bombing, and attacking enemy troops on the ground from a low height."
