Source: 18th Battalion Nominal Roll, April 1915.
Find-A-Grave: Buried in England.
Private Walter Stephen Claydon was born March 02 1884 in Cheveley Cambridgeshire England. He had moved to Preston ON from Cheveley Cambridgeshire England to live with his brother, James Claydon, before the First World War.
On October 23 1914, in Toronto, at the age of 31, Walter Claydon enlisted. His regimental number was 302369. His next of kin was his brother James.
He was with the 18th Battalion. This was the second Canadian contingent recruited. During the winter of 1914-1915 this contingent was trained in Ontario. Unlike the first Canadian Contingent who sailed in the a great armada, this contingent left in separate transport in the spring of 1915 and spent the summer training in Shorncliffe on the coast of Kent.
In September 1915 Walter transferred to the British Army – Suffolk Regiment. He served on the front lines in France including Flanders.
On December 26st 1919, Walter Stephen Claydon married Elsie Dewsbury at Cheveley Suffolk. The family remained in England in the Suffolk area. They had 3 children, Arthur Henry Claydon; Walter Leslie Claydon; and Dennis Ralph Claydon.
Walter died in 1962.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 