SAM CLAYDON

By Helen Trustum

delivery of meat products by horse and cart. Twice a week he would go as far as Goonengerry, worked for butchers at Clunes and Eltham. Sam’s brother Bert (Clocky) also moved to Federal. Clocky, as and builder. He rode a motor bike frst, then acquired a Ford Model T. Clocky was an expert in windmill he enlisted in the Australian Infantry Force in 1916. He was initially based at a training camp before and father as the troop train passed through the Federal district. Sam and his colleagues were then taken across the continent to Fremantle and departed for Europe aboard the HMAT Borda A30. Just fve days out the boat sprung a leak and was forced back to port. Finally, the journey began – a very rough passage around the Cape of Good Hope, via Durban and Cape Town and on to England. Sam served in France. His recollections of that horrifc War included fnding two of his cousins killed at the front. That was something that always remained on his mind.

Happy memories though include seeing a concert presented specifcally for the soldiers by the great soprano Dame Nellie Melba and the immense pleasure it gave the men.

On his return from Europe, Sam returned to work at the butcher shops in Clunes and Eltham. The citizens of Clunes presented him with an engraved gold medal and placed his name on the Honour board in the village’s Uniting Church.

Repentance Creek, and surrounding districts. Sam also he was known was a watchmaker, as well as a mechanic, plumber, maintenance. It was while he was at Eltham that going to Sydney by rail. Sam remembered waiving to his mother

Sam often recalled his days hunting and jumping horses at the local shows. He would ride for Charlie Jarvis from Disputed Plain. He had a clear memory of the “Radium” horses which were excellent show jumpers.

In 1925 Sam joined the Tick Staff stationed at Tabulam and it was there he met his wife Irene Elizabeth who was the daughter of Frederick and Alice Clark of Bonalbo. Sam and Irene were married at Byron Bay on 27th