1466 Pte. George Lindsay Clay was killed in an explosion at the 2nd Army Workshop and was sent to the 15 Casualty Clearing Station for burial in HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY.

George was from Matlock and a gas fitter by trade and worked at the Matlock District Gas Company. He enlisted into the 6th Battalion in June 1916 aged 19 and attended both the Abermaide and Clumber Annual Camps. He arrived in France with the 46th North Midland Division in February 1915, but was attached to the 2nd Army Workshop in August 1915.

During the Court of Inquiry Lieutenant R Howell R.F.A. recored that at 4.45pm on the 29th January 1917 he heard a large explosion near to the oxyacetylene plant. This explosion killed 3 men:-

• 13073 L/Cpl G.W. Irons of the 11th Battn The King’s (Liverpool Regiment).
• A/L/Cpl Clay of the 1/6th Battn Notts and Derby Regiment.
• 200369 Pte. H.F. Thomas of the 1/5th Battn Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

All three men are buried next to each other in Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery