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
The three men are buried next to each other in Plot 1, Row F
4018 Pte Reginald Knee the only son of Rose Knee of 35 Cross St. in Newark. Reginald was an apprentice turner and enlisted in the 3/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters at Newark in May 1915 aged 19. Following training he arrived in France on the 16th July 1916 with the 14th Reinforcement.
Roy Woodhouse was a painter and decorator and enlisted into “E” Matlock Company in January 1912 aged 19. He was the son of Elias and Clara Woodhouse of “Tor Side” on Jackson Rd in Matlock.
Derbyshire Territorials in the Great War 