Hooge Crater Cemetery
Hooge Crater Cemetery
Ian Murray has submitted the following:-
Samuel Whitfield, son of John and Anna McClay (nee Whitfield) was born on 16th April 1895. In the 1901 census he is living with his mother, Hannah (sic) McClay, at the home of her father, Boaz Whitfield (a farmer) at Dykenook which is a farm up Newbiggen Lane near to Knitsley Mill.
In the 1911 census, Samuel is recorded as being a boarding pupil at St Cuthbert’s Grammar School at 49, Bath Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne.
His WW1 Medal Roll card records that Samuel was a Lance Corporal in the Northumberland Fusiliers and (from April 1915) a 2nd Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment.
Samuel went to France 8th July 1917.
The Lincolns attacked across the Polygonbeeke to capture Juniper Trench in the area of Judge Copse. They had heavy casualties from machine gun fire and Samuel died of wounds on 4th October 1917 and was buried in the area. After the war his grave was transferred to Hooge Crater Cemetery.
His Medal Roll Index Card also indicated that his uncle was B. (Boaz) Whitfield at Dykenook. This may have been his next of kin at the time.
Awards: British War Medal; Victory Medal.
Samuel Whitfield McClay is remembered at Lanchester on L62.01 and L62.07 and at Blackhill on B145.01
