Bignell, CA
(1886 - 1916)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
10th February 1886
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1900 - 1903
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
14 Lawrence Road, South Norwood
REGIMENT
4th Rajputs, Indian Army
FINAL RANK:
Captain
DATE OF DEATH:
21st November 1916
AGE AT DEATH:
30
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Iraq
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery XXI H 4
Captain Claude Arthur Bignell
Claude was born on 10th February 1886, the second child, and only son, of William Bignell, a member of the Indian Civil Service, and his wife Madeline. After spending three years at Dulwich he went on Sandhurst, passing out in 1905 and being gazetted to a position with the Indian Army. In 1907 he was promoted to Lieutenant, in 1910 he became Assistant Instructor at the Musketry School in Satara, and two years later was made Quartermaster of the 4th Rajputs.
On the outbreak of War he was promoted to Captain, before his regiment was sent to East Africa. In June of 1915, during a period of leave in Bombay, he married Ethel Margary, before returning to combat, this time in the Middle East. He was attached to the 24th Punjabis, and had recently been mentioned in dispatches, when he fell at Yozgat, in modern day Turkey, on November 21st 1916.