Eulogy 18 - Henry Normanby Clayton (1891-1915)

 

DIED WITHOUT KNOWING

(Eulogy written and published on Facebook on 7th August 2019 for
Henry Normanby Clayton (1891-1915) – the biological Father of
Norma Clayton Bradley Marie Anderson (1915-2012) –
a maternal Aunt of Warren Maloney)


Henry died at the Nek 114 years ago today. 


He didn't know that his girl, Alicia, was pregnant when his troop ship left in February. 

He didn't know that his training-camp best mate, Tassie Bill, had married Alicia in March "to help her out". 


Neither Henry nor Alicia knew that Tassie Bill was already married with 2 kids in Hobart. 

Henry did know that he was likely to die in that 200 yards dash to the Turks' trenches - the 2 previous charges in the last hour were lying there dead or wounded in front of him.


Henry died in the 3rd charge. He never knew his daughter, Norma, who was born 6 weeks later. 


Norma was handed to a friendly family shortly after her birth, and after Tassie Bill avoided arrest for bigamy by joining the NZ Army.


Norma was my Aunt. She had a very brave, but unknowing Dad.

 

 


 

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