Pte 94239 Henry Christian De Claire

• Age: 20
• From: Penarth, Glam
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Henry Christian De Claire was born 26th February 1899 in Penarth, Glamorgan and was the son of William and Cecilia (nee Dippe) De Claire, who married September 1894 in Cardiff. He was baptised on the 3rd May 1899 at St Augustine, Penarth.

He was educated at Penarth Board School and Albert County Infants and Junior School, Albert Road, Penarth from 1902.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 4 Maughan Terrace, Penarth, Glamorgan.

The father Will De Claire is aged 31, a mariner who was born in Heligoland, Germany, and his wife Cecilia is aged 27 and was born in Penarth. They have one child Henry Christian aged 2 who was born in Penarth.

The mother Cecilia died in September 1904 aged 31.

The father William remarried in March 1905 to Ellen Cooke

On the 1911 census the family have moved to 27 Maughan Terrace.

The Father Will De Claire is aged 40, a boat builder and rigger, and his wife Ellen is aged 30 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for 6 years and have 5 children who were all born in Penarth. Henry is now aged 12, Louise 9, Will George 5, Theresa 3, Peter 2, Charles 1 and Ilene 1mth.

He was serving in the 19^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 94239 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 20 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary entry for the day gives an insight into the events of the day. 

29 April 1918 

A 3 a.m. the Enemy opened up a very heavy Bombardment of High explosive and Gas shells on our covering Artillery and at 6 a.m.. launched a powerful attack , smothering our outpost line, but failing to pierce the Battalion front, being repulsed with heavy loss. At 8 a.m. the Enemy again attacked but was repulsed. Many Casualties were caused to him during the day, as numbers of the enemy were picked off as they endeavoured to get back to their own lines. 

Casualties were Capt E B Hough Killed, 2nd Lt W. Munro Killed and 12 Other Ranks Killed, 28 Wounded and 13 Other Ranks missing"

Henry has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers Effects to father William, no Pension record found

He is named on the Roll of Honour at St Augustine's Church, Penarth  and also remembered on the War Memorial at St Augustine's Church, Penarth.

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

IN MEMORY OF

Henry C. De Claire

The father died in March 1932 aged 61

His step-mother died in June 1955 aged 75.

We currently have no further information on Henry Christian De Claire, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.