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43148 7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Claude Rose was born in Sudbury in 1893, the eldest of three sons of Charles and Rosina Rose (née Cross). His father was a taxidermist and in 1901 had a shop at 73 Friars Street. The family lived at one time in Vicarage Lane in Great Cornard. At the age of 18 Claude was employed as an ironmonger’s assistant for Mr. Page at 14 Market Hill. He married Elizabeth Rose McCall in 1917 and they lived at 8 Gaol Lane.
Claude enlisted in 1914 and served with the Suffolk Regiment (formerly 2007 in the 1/6th Cyclist Battalion). He was promoted to Lance Corporal in November 1915 and embarked at Folkestone landing at Boulogne on 27 July 1916. Initially he was posted to 4th Battalion but in August he transferred to 7th Battalion.
Claude suffered from ill health and was admitted to hospital on several occasions between October 1916 and March 1917 which included being sent back to England to the Eastern Park Hospital at Wickham Market. He reverted to the rank of Private in December 1917 and was posted to back to his battalion which formed part of 35th Brigade, 12th (Eastern) Division.
On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. Operation Michael was a vast attack along the whole Somme sector front with the aim to destroy the British Army. The Germans advanced quickly and deeply with heavy losses for the Allies during March and April 1918. On 27 March Claude received a gunshot wound to his head and had serious paralysis to his right side which also affected his speech. The bullet was removed on 29 March and he was sent back to Leith War Hospital until 11 July 1918 when he was transferred to Sudbury to the Red Cross Hospital in Belle Vue House.
Claude died aged 26 on 19 January 1920 at Belle Vue Red Cross Hospital and was buried in Sudbury Cemetery (Plot DD 144) on 23 January 1920. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Claude is also remembered on Baptist Church Memorial in Church Street.
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