claude choules was born in pershore, worcestershire, on 3 march 1901 and raised in nearby wyre piddle. the son of harry and madeline (née winn), claude was one of seven children, although two died in early childhood. the surviving siblings were douglas, leslie, phyllis and gwendoline. his mother left home when claude was five, returning to the stage as an actress, and he and his older brothers were raised by his father. his older sister phyllis lived with the family of a paternal uncle, while his younger sister gwendoline was adopted by the family of a paternal aunt. claude and his older brothers went to pershore national boys' school, though douglas (born 1893) and leslie (born 1894) emigrated to western australia in 1911.