Claude Noel Quinton

A Private with the 7th Battalion, Claude died on 3rd of July 1916 at the age of 19. 

Claude was born at Lowestoft on 16 March 1897, a son of Jabez and Eliza Quinton. In 1901 his family lived at 200 Denmark Road. Claude was a pupil at Hervey Street School, and attended Saint John’s School from 27 March 1905 to 7 September 1905 when he joined Roman Hill School. In 1911 his family lived at 11 Summer Road.

Claude enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 22506, and was posted to the 7th battalion in France. 

On 3 July 1916 the 7th Battalion took part in a frontal attack on the village of Ovillers, in the Somme region of France. Although initially successful the attack faulted because, when in the village, German troops were able to infiltrate the successive lines of the British attack and inflicted heavy casualties. The 7th Battalion lost 21 officers, and 458 men, killed wounded or missing, but some of those missing did return to the battalion in the following days.

Claude was among those missing and later presumed to have died 'on or since 3 July 1916'. 

Claude initially received a battlefield burial at Map Reference 57d.x.7.d. and later, in 1919, reburied at Ovillers Cemetery.