GUYER, Claude William

Claude was the second son of Alfred and Catherine Guyer of Oakwood near Inverell.  His birth was registered at Inverell in 1897. Claude attended Oakwood Public School, afterwards working as a Drover and Stationhand. 

At the age of nineteen, and with his Father’s permission, he enlisted at Inverell in June 1916. With ten other recruits he was given a public farewell at the Inverell School of Arts and presented with the Inverell medal. The Inverell Times newspaper 3 October 1916 reported that during his final leave ‘a Send-Off was held at the Oakwood Hall’ when he was presented with ‘knitted socks, a Balaclava cap, and mittens’ from friends and ‘a wrist watch from his family’.

Claude was a member of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, 23rd Reinforcement and left Australia on the ship RMS Karmala in February 1917. After arriving in Egypt he was eventually sent to Palestine where he was wounded in action in November 1917. Private Guyer died of his wounds on 4 November and buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Palestine.  His remaining personal possessions were returned to his family and included a pipe, tobacco pouch, mouth organ, muffler and leather cutlery holder.

Claude Guyer’s name is recorded on the Oakwood Honor Roll, the Inverell Honor Roll and Inverell Cenotaph.  In 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell.

Photo: Australian War Memorial Image H18830