Born on 27th July 1886 in Edinburgh, Scotland, Captain Heygate was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916, aged 29.

He was the second son of Major William Howley Beaumont Heygate (1854-1928), and Helen Frances Dalglish of Roecliffe Manor, Loughborough, Leicestershire. He was brother to Gerald (1882-1954) and Lionel Clement (1893-1947).

Claud started at St Ronan’s in May 1895. In 1896, The Ronian reported: “a word of praise is also due to C.R. Heygate for the excellent way he stuck to his work in the Junior Quarter”. In that same year he came first in the Quarter Mile race, “Heygate ran wonderfully for so young a boy, and taking the lead before the end of the first lap kept it to the finish, answering Keran’s challenge at the end in the most plucky manner. Time 84 1/5 seconds”.

He also came first in the Long Jump (junior) jumping 10ft: “The winner’s first leap proved his best”. In 1898 he won the 100 Yards (senior), The Quarter Mile (senior), the Half Mile Open but came second this time in the Obstacle race as he was “tired out”.

He was selected for The Grub Shop Committee and in 1897 appointed as a Prefect.

He won his Class Prize and again came first in the 100 yards, “fairly easily, although he would persist in looking round”, the Junior Obstacle race and The Quarter Mile, “romped away from his field”, winning easily in 1 minute 16 seconds. Knocking some 8 seconds off his previous time.

In his last year he won the Senior High Jump, Hurdles, Senior Quarter Mile

In Cricket, The Ronian describe him thus: “with his excellent natural abilities for the game, in playing in style he never approached last season” and “very promising bat, and fair cover point”. In 1897 he earned his colours and In 1898 he was elected Vice-Captain. In a match that year against Lancing College: “Heygate and Harrison did very much as they liked, and put on 65 runs before Heygate was bowled out for a very good 40”.

He was elected Captain of the Football team in 1897 and earned his Colours. in an 1898 match against Arlington House “Heygate made a dashing run through several opponents and hammered the ball into the net” and “Heygate on the left-wing did, as usual, three men’s work” and in 1899 against Merton House “At length Heygate got away, and sticking to the ball himself, put in a very good cross shot which proved too much for the visiting goal keeper.” In 1899 “Congratulations as usual to Heygate…We understand that Heygate’s third year of captaincy is a record at S. Ronan’s”.

In a theatrical performance on the 21st December 1898 of “My Turn Next” he played “Cicely”: “we have seen few more fascinating young ladies than Heygate, and the transformation from the energetic captain on the football field was wonderful indeed”.

During the Christmas holiday of 1898 he caught Pneumonia and did not return to school until the summer term.

He left Saint Ronan’s at the end of the Spring term 1900. Like his brothers he went on to attend Radley. He returned to the school in the Summer of 1902 to participate in the “Past v. Present” annual Cricket Match.

In 1905 he passed into Sandhurst, 35th on the list of successful candidates, and whilst there was a member of their Hockey Team.

He received his commission to the 1st Yorkshire Light Infantry in August 1906.

At the outbreak of war he was at the depot of the regiment and went out with a draft from Hull in August 1914. He was present at the battle of Marne, the Aisne, and the first battle of Ypres, when he was wounded at Lorgues.

In October 1914, he was transferred to Bethune, suffering wounds in both his legs from shrapnel. In January 1915 it was reported that he was progressing well.
His Ronian obituary reads: “C.R. Heygate “was the second of three brothers, all of whom were valuable members of the School, and who have been all in the Regular Army. Claud, during his time at Saint Ronan’s was the leading boy in the school; not only was he Head Prefect, but he was by far the best athlete, and was unusually good in all branches. After leaving Radley, he used to play for the Warwickshire Gentlemen at Cricket. He was a very promising officer, and his loss will be a serious one”.

He is also commemorated at Saint Paul’s Church, Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire:

His brothers also served and survived the War:
• Lionel gained the rank of Major in the service of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He was wounded in the War, but went on to become Aide-de-Camp to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Gold Coast in 1929.
• Gerald gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the service of the Royal Artillery. He was mentioned in despatches and in 1918 was decorated with the award of the Companion, Distinguished Service Order. He held the office of Justice of the Peace for Leicestershire in 1924.