Private Claude WATSHAM - survived WW1

Private Claude Watsham

Peter Hill & Ian Valentine

A familiar sight, Claude Watsham standing at the gate to Cross Farm up until the late 1980s.
Photo: Peter Hill

Claude Watsham was born in Elmstead in about 1899, the fourth of seven children of  Frederick (Farmer) and Emma Watsham.

In the 1911 Census he is described as at School and living at Vine Farm, Wivenhoe.

He joined up as a Private in the Royal Fusiliers.

The Essex County Standard reported on 24 August 1918: “Official notification that he has been severely wounded in the chest and is now in hospital in Bristol.”

He survived the war although it left him rather deaf in one ear.

For more about Claude Watsham who had asked Charles Gooch if he might take on Cross Farm after the War, that is if he survived – click here

This page was added on 03/03/2017.

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