Christopher Clay

A Private with 54th (1/1st East Anglian) Casualty Clearing Station, Christopher died on 13th August 1915 at the age of 23.

Christopher was born at Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, in 1892, a son of George and Jemima Clay. Christopher's father died in 1897 and by 1901 his family were living at 40 Oxford Road, High Wycombe.

By 1911 Christopher had moved to Lowestoft and he lodged with Edward and Francis Mitchell, and family, at 19 Norwich Road. Christopher worked as a dental mechanician.  

Christopher volunteered and he joined the Army, at Lowestoft, on 4 February 1915. He served with the local territorial unit of the Royal Army Medical Corps which became part of the 54th (1/1st East Anglian) Casualty Clearing Station. 

Christopher embarked the Royal Edward at Devonport on 30 July 1915 and arrived at Alexandria on 11 August 1915. The Royal Edward sailed for Gallipoli on 12 August, but was torpedoed and sunk on 13 August. Christopher was reported 'missing, believed drowned in the sinking of the Royal Edward.'

Christopher is commemorated on the plaque at the High Wycombe War Memorial Hospital.