Info for Richy 1968

[Bob Coulson]

Captain Claud Gifford Jeffery – 2nd Battalion.

Claud Jeffery was born on April 13th 1880 in Bradford, the son of a local solicitor.

He was educated at Bradford Grammar School and the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester and later fought in the Boer War as a private soldier.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in 1901 and by 1909 had made captain and for a time served with the Egyptian army.

On February 10th 1914 he married his wife Nellie at Barbon in Westmoreland and on October 6th 1914 arrived at Zeebrugge as one of the original officers of the 2nd battalion. They proceeded to Bruges and by October 14th had arrived in Ypres.

The first battle of Ypres opened on October 21st and on the 22nd Captain Jeffery and his men were in the line close to Becelaere. At 4-00pm Private Waller dashed back to inform the captain that the enemy was just fifty yards away.

“If they are that close we must charge them with the bayonet, who will rush them with me?”

was his response. Private Waller and about twenty men joined as Captain Jeffery led the attack, sword in one hand, revolver in the other. Just as they reached the Germans Captain Jeffery received a bullet wound to the groin.

“I am wounded, carry on men, carry on”. He was taken from the battlefield for treatment and eventually to a hospital in Ypres.

Captain Claud Gifford Jeffery died of his wounds two days later on October 24th 1914 at the age of 34.

His grave today lies in Ypres Town Cemetery just a ten minute walk from the Menin Gate.

Claud Jeffery was the son of Herbert and Bertha Jeffery of Bradford and at the time of his death his wife Nellie was living at Coldingham, Winchfield in Hampshire

[richy1968]

Many Thanks Bob - Great Stuff

Richard