George Clements (1881-?1969)

Post date: Apr 07, 2016 6:12:4 PM

George was born in 1st quarter of 1881 and at the 1881 census was living with his parents, in Latter's Buildings. His father, also a George, was described as a carter and agricultural labourer. His mother was Ann Elizabeth, also born in Wateringbury. After 1881 their census entry has them as Clement rather than Clements. George junior is not on the 1901 census so he had left home by the. The 1911 census records his mother and father still living in 3 rooms at Latter's Buildings now just with 2 children at home (Harry and Mabel). His parents had then been married 30 years and had had 7 children of whom 6 were still alive.

George's brother William is referred to as well in the newspaper article below. William was recorded in January 1898 in the school log as being punished for running about and lying although the next month he won a class prize.

His brother William, also in the A.S.C., wrote to the vicar (published in December 1914 village magazine) as follows :

"During the first two weeks of the War we had several narrow escapes, in one case a shell burst within eighty yards of our lorries on the return journey from a village near Mons,and on two or three occasions we have had to leave lorries to avoid being captured. Most of the villages we now pass through are practically destroyed by shell-fire. If I can I will try and get you some relics as a memento of the greatest war ever known in the world's history, in the cause of liberty" (Sgt. W. J.Clements, 63rd Company A.S.C. 3rd Division Supply Column).

The vicar lists the following details for George in June 1915 (Col.-Sergt is short for Colour-Sergeant):

Clements, Col.-Sergt.-Major (16857), Advance Motor Transport Depot, Army Service Corps E.F.

According to the web-site Forces War Records, G.Clements (M/16857) was mentioned in dispatches on 1st June 1915.

Extract from the South Eastern Gazette of Tuesday 18th July 1916:

WATERINGBURY HEROES

WINNERS OF THE MEDAILLE MILITAIRE¹

AND THE D.C.M

Patriotic parishes in Kent are so numerous that it seems quite invidious to single out an example. Wateringbury, however, has recently found occasion to be proud of the fact that one of her sons has received the French Medaille Militaire, and is therefore in a similar category with Town Malling in having won her first war honour.

Sergt.-Major George Clements, whose portrait we publish today, the eldest son of parents, who reside on the western side of the village on the Old Wateringbury Road, has received the French medal, “only on account of doing his duty.” That was all Mrs. Clements could tell our representative of her son’s noble exploits in the war when he called upon her recently -“That’s all I know about it,” she said. “He hasn’t told me a word.” Of such modesty are heroes made. “But I can tell you this,” Mrs. Clements, sen., added (her son is married and has two bairns), “he’s a good son to me.”

Sergt.-Major George Clements, A.S.C., is 35 years of age. He served in the Boer War and was at Shorncliffe when the greater war of 1914 broke out. So he is an old soldier, and it is a biographical tit-bit of some interest that prior to donning khaki he worked with one of Mr. Jesse Ellis’s traction engines and threshing machines. “Till then he worked With Old Ben,” said his mother with a twinkle of pride in her eyes, at what her eldest boy had done for himself since he left the plough engine and the thresher. He has now been soldiering 15 years, but his experience of mechanical affairs stood him in good stead when, as an orderly to his colonel, he heard of a call for men experienced in engine work and volunteered for the job, what ever it was. He was one of the select few taken on and was sent to Birmingham for six months to learn the carriage work of motor transport waggons, and then to Woolwich for the iron work.

He was only a boy off the fields, working as mate with the horses at Cannon Court, a job which he quitted at the age of 19. Then he blossomed out as driver of the first motor Red Cross car from Millbank. That was in 1904. Promotion has followed by merit. He went to the war on August 7th, 1914, his youngest brother preceding him on August 4th.

Wateringbury also lays claim to another honours man in the war, Corporal John Avis, D.C.M., of Police Station Road, West Malling, serving with the 3th Buffs in Mesopotamia, who left Wateringbury, of which village he is a native, to work at Malling. But Wateringbury has no reason to press the claim over far. Her sons have gone to the war most loyally, and several have sealed the deed of honour with their life’s blood. Those who have died for King and country include: L.- Corpl. Robert Head, 6th Dragoon Guards; Pte. E. Sales, Worcester Regiment; Lance Corpl. R. Heath, R.N.L.I., who fought at Antwerp and was killed at the Dardanelles; Rifleman F. Relf, Rifle Brigade, who fell at Loos, September 25th; Pte. Chas. Martin, Coldstream Guards ; Pte. H. Jukes, Coldstream Guards, who fell on the same day; Corpl. Chas. Head, City of London Rifles, on September 25th last; 1st Class Stoker A. Gunner, H.M.S. Natal, December 30th; and Thos. K. Bowles, H.M.S. Lion.

The village sets a splendid example, in the patriotic spirit it nurtures in its sons. The good work carried on at the school under its headmaster, Mr. E. A. Smith, and through the Wateringbury Old Boys’ Society, the village choir, and in the ranks of the Boy Scouts, has borne splendid results, The village roll of honour counts over 200 names, of whom 160 are old members of the village choir. At Christmas Mr. Smith sent a letter and seasonable gifts to every Wateringbury old boy serving with the colours, and in their letters home to him the old school is by no means forgotten. With its motto, “Be thorough,” their village alma mater still rings to the sounds of “Rally, one and all," of which the last verse may fittingly be quoted here as showing that in winning the Medaille Militaire Sergt.-Major Clements, whose mother insists he won the decoration “only an account of doing his duty,” was merely reducing to its practical value the lesson breathed in the old school song :—

“When we leave the school behind us,

And no bugle call,

As of old, sounds to remind us,

Rally, one and all.

We'll forget old comrades—never!

But will make a grand endeavour

To recall, for duty ever,

Rally, one and all.”

There lies before us a list of all the Wateringbury lads who are making the grand endeavour in every branch of the King’s forces on land and sea, and it is only limited space that precludes its appearance in these columns.

Notes:

1. French awarded 230,000 medailles militaires during WW1.